Boycott Amazon: Amazon has been facing a massive backlash on microblogging site Twitter since Monday for selling products with Indian national flag prints. The e-commerce platform has listed several food and clothing products for sale with images of the Indian flag.
Soon after some shoppers spotted these products, hashtags like Boycott Amazon started popping up on Twitter. Consumers have said that using the tricolor in such a form is insulting and a violation of the country’s flag code.
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In a recent development, the Madhya Pradesh government ordered the police to register an FIR against Amazon for selling products, including shoes, with the image of the Indian national flag.
Commenting on the case, Home Minister Narottam Mishra said: “I have learned that our national flag is used on products sold by online e-commerce platform Amazon. It is intolerable that even it (the national flag) has been used on shoes”.
Mishra said it was a violation of the National Flag Code. “I have directed the Chief Police Officer (DGP) to file an FIR against those responsible and the owner of Amazon,” he said.
Amazon official review
Commenting on the matter, Amazon released an official statement stating that the company is committed to taking action against sellers who have listed non-compliant products.
“We require that all products offered on the market comply with applicable laws and constantly take appropriate action in the event of non-compliance. Amazon remains committed to taking necessary action against sellers who may have listed non-compliant products,” the company said.
Several social media users have stated that the use of tricolor on the products is against the Flag Code Of India, 2002. On the other hand, several other users have stated that the use of tricolor is a cheap method to increase the sales.
Many users have shared photos of products such as clothes, clothes, mugs, keychains, etc., which use the national flag imprint. They demanded that these products be banned on the e-commerce platform.
Besides #BoycottAmazon, hashtags like #AmazonInsultsNationalFlag were also trending on Twitter.
Here are some tweets and images of such products:
