India’s national flag-themed door mats selling on e-commerce site Amazon has angered the Indian foreign minister who threatened not to issue visas to the company officials.
External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj demanded an unconditional apology from Amazon for allegedly insulting the Indian tricolour. In a series of tweets, Ms Swaraj demanded that the product be withdrawn immediately.
"Amazon must tender unconditional apology. They must withdraw all products insulting our national flag immediately.
"If this is not done forthwith, we will not grant Indian Visa to any Amazon official. We will also rescind the Visas issued earlier," she tweeted.
She reacted after receiving a tip-off on Twitter about the sale of these doormats in Canada.
A Twitter user tweeted to Ms Swaraj a picture of a doormat on sale on Amazon, that looked identical to India’s national flag.
Insulting the national flag is a criminal offence in India which may attract up to three years in jail and a fine or both.
Source: Amazon
After the minister cracked the whip, Amazon confirmed that the product had been withdrawn.
News agency Reuters reports that Amazon's official support account on Twitter had earlier responded to angry user comments on Twitter by saying the mats were not being sold on their Indian portal and the concerns had been escalated.
