TORONTO — Amazon has apologized to India's foreign minister for selling doormats depicting the Indian flag on the online shopping giant's Canadian website.
The head of the retailer in India sent the apology to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday, according to a tweet by a ministry spokesperson.
The statement, which was posted on Twitter under the verified account of spokesperson Vikas Swarup, said Amazon is committed to respecting the laws and customs in India.
If this is not done forthwith, we will not grant Indian Visa to any Amazon official. We will also rescind the Visas issued earlier.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) January 11, 2017
In India, insulting the national flag is punishable with fines and imprisonment.
Amit Agarwal, vice-president and country manager of Amazon India, said in a statement the company "regrets" the sale of the offending items, noting that they were offered by a third-party seller in Canada.
Indian High Commission in Canada : This is unacceptable. Please take this up with Amazon at the highest level. https://t.co/L4yI3gLk3h
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) January 11, 2017
"At no time did we intend or mean to offend Indian sentiments," Agarwal said.
Minister Swaraj had lashed out on Tuesday at Amazon on Twitter, threatening to deny Indian visas to any Amazon employees if the company did not apologize and "withdraw all products insulting our national flag immediately."
"If this is not done forthwith, we will not grant an Indian visa to any Amazon official. We will also rescind the visas issued earlier," Swaraj tweeted.
Amazon must tender unconditional apology. They must withdraw all products insulting our national flag immediately. /1
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) January 11, 2017
"At not time did we intend or mean to offend Indian sentiments," it said.
The Canadian third-party seller — which also sells mats with other national flags, including the U.S., U.K. and Canada — removed the Indian-themed product, following Swaraj's Twitter threat.
Swaraj had also ordered the embassy in Canada to take up the matter with Amazon "at the highest level."
Arun Kumar Sahu, acting High Commissioner of India to Canada, said the situation has now been resolved.
When asked if the embassy will pursue any further action, Sahu said from Ottawa there wouldn't be anything to follow. "At least I don't have any instructions on this," he added.
The doormats had outraged many people among the Indian diaspora in Canada, who posted pictures of them on social media and urged the foreign minister to formally object.
Last year, there were protests after the online marketplace offered doormats depicting Hindu gods.
A spokesperson for Amazon Canada declined to provide any additional comment.
MORE National ARTICLES
RCMP Divers Continuing Search For Missing Kayaker Off Vancouver Island
COMOX, B.C. — The RCMP has taken over the search for a missing kayaker who fell into waters off the east coast of Vancouver Island late Saturday night.
RCMP Divers Continuing Search For Missing Kayaker Off Vancouver Island
Search And Rescue Team In Sparwood, B.C., Loses Equipment In Fire
SPARWOOD, B.C. — Members of a search and rescue unit in southeastern B.C. say the team is still operational but much of its equipment has been destroyed by fire.
Search And Rescue Team In Sparwood, B.C., Loses Equipment In Fire
Nova Scotia Girl Was Changing When Photo Snapped Without Her Knowledge: Court Document
BRIDGEWATER, N.S. — A Nova Scotia court document says a teenaged girl whose nude image was allegedly shared without consent was changing when a photo of her was snapped without her knowledge.
Nova Scotia Girl Was Changing When Photo Snapped Without Her Knowledge: Court Document
Longtime Opioid Users Motivated By Desire To Avoid Drug Withdrawal
"It was a scary moment for me," Lenec said of his withdrawal experience in early 2007. "I've never felt like that in my life."
Longtime Opioid Users Motivated By Desire To Avoid Drug Withdrawal
Montreal Organized Crime Figure Raynald Desjardins Sentenced To 14 Years
MONTREAL — A former close associate to late crime figure Vito Rizzuto has been sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Montreal Organized Crime Figure Raynald Desjardins Sentenced To 14 Years
Newfoundland Man Finds Girl He Saved From Fire 65 Years Ago Living Next Door
CONCEPTION BAY SOUTH, N.L. — Edward 'Kip' Malone says he has been dogged by the "mystery" of what ever happened to two young girls he rescued from a house fire in St. John's, N.L. in 1951, only to find the answer living right next door some 65 years later.