The insulting Gandhi flip flops sold on Amazon. (Photo : amazon)
American online retail giant Amazon.com came under withering criticism from Indian citizens and the Indian government for selling insulting flip flops with the image of the revered Mahatma Gandhi, the "Father of the Nation."
The derisive flip flops were posted as being on sale two days ago but were taken down yesterday following a firestorm of criticism taking Amazon to task for another massive insult directed against India.
Only last week, Amazon was pilloried for selling doormats bearing images of the Indian flag. In June 2016, Amazon was condemned for selling doormats illustrating Hindu gods. The doormats have since been removed from Amazon's website. Desecration of the Indian flag is punishable with fines and imprisonment in India.
The string of Amazon faux pas comes at a time when Amazon is desperately fighting to increase its paltry share of India's online market against stern competition from Indian online retailer, Flipkart.
Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted to demand Amazon "apologize unconditionally" or its officials would not be given visas.
Amazon India vice-president Amit Agarwal replied saying the doormats had been offered by a third-party seller on its Canadian website and there had been no intent to offend.
Agarwal said Amazon was "committed to respecting Indian laws and customs."
The flip-flops, which cost $16.99, were described on Amazon as "professionally printed" and a product that "will look great and make someone smile."
Indians were not smiling, however.
"Try imagining your footwear featuring your own parents or grandparents & how comfortable would you be with that kind of a 'respect' & 'affection' shown to them," wrote an irate Indian on Amazon's Customer Reviews board.
"Shameless Amazon first it was Indian flag and now Mahatma Gandhi looks like Jeff Bezos is losing his mind," wrote another.
And as for the flap over Amazon's doormats with the Indian flag, Delhi said its 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."
