New Delhi: The global e-tailer Amazon India has written an apology letter to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj over the sale of doormats depicting the tricolor and informed her about the removal of the product from its Canadian website.
The Vice President and Country Manager of Amazon India Amit Agarwal said in a letter that, “I am writing in connection with the products that carried the Indian flag, as referred to in your tweet.”
“Amazon India is committed to respecting Indian laws and customs. To the extent that these items offered by a third- party seller in Canada offended Indian sensibilities, Amazon regrets the same. At no time did we intend or mean to offend Indian sentiments.”
“We value immensely our relationship with the Indian government, the country’s entrepreneurs and innovators, a most importantly our Indian customers and employees,” Agarwal said.
Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday described the doormats as “unacceptable” and tweeted that Amazon must apologize unconditionally and withdraw all products insulting the flag or Amazon officials would not be granted Indian visas.
Soon the tweets went viral and led to an outrage on the social media by Indians and people of Indian-origin.Swaraj is one of the most active Indian ministers on Twitter with nearly 7 million followers.