Economic Affairs Secretary threatens Amazon, later says he tweeted in personal capacity
Secretary of Economic Affairs Shaktikanta Das took to Twitter expressing his sentiments about the use of Indian symbols and icons on products.
After Sushma Swaraj's Twitter outrage against Amazon for the sale of doormats in the colours of the Indian national flag, ​Secretary of Economic Affairs Shaktikanta Das has now taken to Twitter expressing his 'strong' sentiments against the use of Indian symbols and icons on products.
"Amazon, better behave. Desist from being flippant about Indian symbols & icons. Indifference will be at your own peril.," he tweeted.
However, later he went on to clarify that his tweet shouldn't be taken as that from a person in authority, but 'as a citizen of India.'
He also went on to add that he gets 'touchy when icons are involved'.
Earlier, on Wednesday, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj reprimanded Amazon and demanded an apology from them, warning that the government will not grant visas to any Amazon official and would also revoke visas issued earlier. This was in response to Amazon's Canadian​ website selling doormats in the colours of the Indian flag.
Responding to Swaraj's tweet, Vice President and Country Manager of Amazon India Amit Agarwal wrote a letter to her, which read, "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." He also informed her about removal of the product from its Canadian website.
However, Twitter was abuzz on Saturday again after Amazon's US portal was seen selling flip-flops with the face of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi divided into two. It was being sold under the fashion category at US $17.