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
Indus Treaty Processes 'Paused', World Bank Asks India, Pak For 'Alternate Approach'
In a significant development, the World Bank has paused the separate processes initiated by India and Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty to allow the two countries to consider alternative ways to resolve their disagreements.
Indus Treaty Processes 'Paused', World Bank Asks India, Pak For 'Alternate Approach'
Canada's Top Doctor Gregory Taylor Retiring, Ahead Of Schedule
After a little more than two years in the job, Dr. Gregory Taylor is retiring as the country's top doctor, three years ahead of schedule.
Canada's Top Doctor Gregory Taylor Retiring, Ahead Of Schedule
Abbotsford Police Chief Sends Letter To Parents About Gang Conflict
Abbotsford's police chief has sent a letter asking for help from the parents of young men whom officers believe are involved in a violent gang conflict.
Abbotsford Police Chief Sends Letter To Parents About Gang Conflict
Changes To Census Would Be Extremely Difficult Under New Law, Navdeep Bains Says
Bains said the bill would give Statistics Canada a say over how data is collected.
Changes To Census Would Be Extremely Difficult Under New Law, Navdeep Bains Says
Winnipeg Lab Researcher Potentially Exposed To Ebola Virus Cleared After Isolation
WINNIPEG — A Winnipeg lab researcher who was potentially exposed to the Ebola virus has been cleared to return to work.
Winnipeg Lab Researcher Potentially Exposed To Ebola Virus Cleared After Isolation
Canada Asks U.S. Court To Toss Case Alleging It Wrongly Named Woman A Terrorist
The Canadian government wants a United States court to throw out a lawsuit that accuses it of ruining the life and multimillion-dollar business of a British Columbia woman after it wrongly branded her a terrorist.