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
Abbotsford, B.C. Man Who Tried To Smuggle Baby Lizards Across Border Fined $6,000
Canada Border Services Agency says in a release that Gregory Anderson was trying to cross from Sumas, Wash., into Abbotsford last October when officers found the reptiles in the pocket of his hooded sweatshirt.
Abbotsford, B.C. Man Who Tried To Smuggle Baby Lizards Across Border Fined $6,000
Toddler, 2, Among 4 Family Members Killed In Port Colborne, Ont. House Fire
Two children, their mother and their great-grandmother have died in a house fire that has devastated a small southwestern Ontario community, according to a close friend and a family relative.
Toddler, 2, Among 4 Family Members Killed In Port Colborne, Ont. House Fire
Conditional Discharge For Unruly Sunwing Travellers Who Forced Plane Turnaround
TORONTO — Two women whose "obnoxious and unruly behaviour" forced a Cuba-bound Sunwing flight to return to Toronto under a military escort have been given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay a fine.
Conditional Discharge For Unruly Sunwing Travellers Who Forced Plane Turnaround
'Grinch' Steals Donations From Christmas Display On Prince Edward Island
NORTH RUSTICO, P.E.I. — A P.E.I. couple who collect charitable donations from people visiting their elaborate Christmas display says the donation box has been stolen.
'Grinch' Steals Donations From Christmas Display On Prince Edward Island
Vancouver Approves Tax To Help First Responders Battling Opioid Overdose Crisis
Vancouver has approved a small tax hike intended to help address the opioid overdose crisis.
Vancouver Approves Tax To Help First Responders Battling Opioid Overdose Crisis
Safety board to report on B.C. fishing boat capsizing that killed three
Investigators with the Transportation Safety Board are scheduled to release a report today about a commercial fishing boat that capsized last year near Tofino, B.C., killing three men.