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
UBC RCMP Say 12-Year-Old Girl Found, Reunited With Mom
The University of British Columbia's RCMP detachment confirms Thursday evening that Zoe Forsyth-Sanford was located.
UBC RCMP Say 12-Year-Old Girl Found, Reunited With Mom
Snow Arrives To Southern B.C., Cool Temperatures Along Central And North Coast
Environment Canada is predicting between 10 and 25 centimetres of snow on B-C's south coast and the Island for today and into the weekend.
Snow Arrives To Southern B.C., Cool Temperatures Along Central And North Coast
Noose Shown To Muslim Women: Edmonton Police Release Man Without Charges
No charges have been laid, but police say the man is still a person of interest in the case.
Noose Shown To Muslim Women: Edmonton Police Release Man Without Charges
Doctor Fights Finding She Sexually Abused Woman, And Loss Of Medical Licence
In making its decision, the disciplinary committee ignored evidence that the relationship between Dr. Mary McIntyre and the woman was over when the sexual conduct occurred, court heard.
Doctor Fights Finding She Sexually Abused Woman, And Loss Of Medical Licence
Rediff Has Sold The Legendary India Abroad Newspaper In The US
India Abroad, the oldest continuously published Indian-American newspaper, has been sold by Rediff to 8K Miles Media, a company that publishes a Tamil magazine in Silicon Valley and runs a multilingual radio service, according to an editor's note in the newspaper.
Rediff Has Sold The Legendary India Abroad Newspaper In The US
Tests To Be Done To Determine Responsibility Of Brothers In Sex Assault Case
Corey Manyshots, who is 25, and his 21-year-old brother Cody pleaded guilty in October 2015 to kidnapping, uttering threats, sexual assault and robbery.