Amazon Apologises to India After Sushma’s Visa Denial Threat

Amazon Canada was retailing doormats with the Indian flag on them until recently, which had triggered protests.

Amazon Canada was retailing doormats with the Indian flag on them until recently, which had triggered a storm of protests.

Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj took cognisance of the matter and asked the company to issue an “unconditional apology” or her ministry will “not issue visas to any Amazon official in future”.

Amazon must tender unconditional apology. They must withdraw all products insulting our national flag immediately. /1

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) January 11, 2017

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

Amazon, which had halted the sale of the doormat has issued an apology to India over the contentious doormats.

In response to EAM @SushmaSwaraj's tweet, @amazon writes to her, expresses regret at hurting Indian sensibilities, pulls offending item pic.twitter.com/tqRcA10CaZ

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) January 12, 2017

Also Read: Amazon Halts Sale of Tricolour Doormat After Sushma’s Visa Threat

A petition was also filed on Change.org demanding that the company take the doormat off its website and issue an apology to all Indians.

Twitter Responds

People were quick to respond to the bold move taken by the minister. Some applauded it while others thought denying visas was unnecessary.

American flags, American-Israeli combo flags, but only our desi nationalists will flip out like this. Crazy! @SushmaSwaraj pic.twitter.com/6XXpNzufS7

— Vinay Aravind (@vinayaravind) January 11, 2017

@SushmaSwaraj great job ma'am. Amazon better learn we r dead serious about such issues https://t.co/p4idUiF8F7

— b̸d̸c̸h̸a̸n̸g̸e̸ (@Malaikasoz) January 11, 2017

1. A+ use of "forthwith"
2. Amazon India offers a doormat with the UK flag on it. What now? pic.twitter.com/n9rhRLhEnr

— Neha Yadav (@JustAnotherNY) January 11, 2017

@SushmaSwaraj @amazonIN one day block of website in india apart from unconditional apology and immidiate withdrawal of product is needed1.

— Satish Kumar Singh (@satishsingh_90) January 11, 2017

@SushmaSwaraj Mam Amazon canada selling indian flag door mates (made in China) pls look into the issue.

— Mayurdhvajsinh (@mayurdhvajsinhv) January 11, 2017

@SushmaSwaraj thank you ! Can't express how proud I am to be Indian right now ! #bharatmatakijai

— Vinod Mankad (@malathy_sarovar) January 11, 2017

Also Read: Amazon Sells Doormat Featuring Indian Flag, Triggers Protests