Amazon Canada has removed doormats depicting Indian flag from its website after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj warned stern action including to rescind visas of the company's employees if they did not stop selling the product.
Reuters reported that the doormat, sold by a third-party on Amazon's Canadian portal, was taken down late on Wednesday. "The item is no longer available for sale on the site," a spokeswoman for Amazon said in an email, the agency quoted.
According to reports, Amazon's portal in Canada sells doormats fashioned around other national flags. Earlier, the issue had created angry reactions after Amazon's official support account on Twitter responded in negative to users' comments seeking removal of it. The company had defended itself by saying the mats were not being sold on their Indian portal.
Sushma Swaraj also asked the Indian Embassy to take up the matter with Amazon Canada.
"Indian High Commission in Canada : This is unacceptable. Please take this up with Amazon at the highest level," she said.
"Amazon must tender unconditional apology. They must withdraw all products insulting our national flag immediately."
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"If this is not done forthwith, we will not grant Indian Visa to any Amazon official. We will also rescind the Visas issued earlier," Swaraj said in a series of tweets after she received a complaint on Twitter.
"@SushmaSwaraj Madam. Amazon Canada must be censured and warned not to sell India flag doormats. Please take action," tweeted Atul Bhobe, who also posted a screenshot of the products.
