Mahatma Gandhi Flip-flops

After a huge outrage in India, retail giant Amazon has pulled out the flip-flops bearing the face of Mahatma Gandhi. The External Affairs Ministry, which had taken up the issue after intervention by Foreign mInister Ms Sushma Swaraj , today said the product is no longer being sold.

Amazon could not immediately be reached for comment Sunday but the flip-flops appeared to have been taken down from their site.

In a tweet on Sunday, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das cautioned Amazon against "being flippant about Indian symbols and icons" as images emerged of flip-flops with Mahatma Gandhi images on sale. Later, the top bureaucrat clarified that he had commented "as a citizen of India."

Seems Amazon is up for yet another controversy just a few days after the e-commerce giant apologised for the sale of Indian flag-themed doormats after Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj's tough warning to the company. This time, on its US portal, Amazon has put up flip flops with Mahatma Gandhi's face on it.

"As a follow up to the matter regarding the sale of doormats with the Indian flag on Amazon, our Ambassador in Washington has been instructed to convey to Amazon that while providing a platform for third party vendors, they should respect Indian sensitivities and sentiments," said MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup.

After a huge outrage in India, retail giant Amazon has pulled out the flip-flops bearing the face of Mahatma Gandhi. The External Affairs Ministry, which had taken up the issue after intervention by Foreign mInister Ms Sushma Swaraj , today said the product is no longer being sold.

Amazon could not immediately be reached for comment Sunday but the flip-flops appeared to have been taken down from their site.

In a tweet on Sunday, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das cautioned Amazon against "being flippant about Indian symbols and icons" as images emerged of flip-flops with Mahatma Gandhi images on sale. Later, the top bureaucrat clarified that he had commented "as a citizen of India."

Seems Amazon is up for yet another controversy just a few days after the e-commerce giant apologised for the sale of Indian flag-themed doormats after Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj's tough warning to the company. This time, on its US portal, Amazon has put up flip flops with Mahatma Gandhi's face on it.

"As a follow up to the matter regarding the sale of doormats with the Indian flag on Amazon, our Ambassador in Washington has been instructed to convey to Amazon that while providing a platform for third party vendors, they should respect Indian sensitivities and sentiments," said MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup.