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Amazon Faces Backlash in India for Selling Shoes, Rugs With Images of Hindu Gods

Amazon Faces Backlash in India for Selling Shoes, Rugs With Images of Hindu Gods

Amazon said it was removing the products from its online store.

By Reuters | Updated: 17 May 2019 10:02 IST

Amazon Faces Backlash in India for Selling Shoes, Rugs With Images of Hindu Gods

Amazon.com faced a social media backlash in India on Thursday after toilet seat covers and other items emblazoned with images of Hindu gods were spotted on its website.

Thousands of Twitter users backed a call for a boycott of the US retailer, making #BoycottAmazon India's top trending topic on Twitter. Some tagged Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, urging her to take action against the company.

Amazon, the world's biggest online retailer, said it was removing the products from its online store.

"All sellers must follow our selling guidelines and those who do not will be subject to action including potential removal of their account," the company said in a statement.

The episode is reminiscent of an incident in 2017 when the Indian government took Amazon to task after its Canadian website was spotted selling doormats resembling India's flag.

Swaraj at the time threatened to rescind visas of Amazon employees if the doormats were not removed from its site.

Reuters found several listings of toilet seat covers, yoga mats, sneakers, rugs and other items depicting Hindu gods, or sacred Hindu symbols, on Amazon's US website.

Some of the items were no longer available for purchase.

"Until you hit these Hinduphobics Business hard they will keep on insulting your gods, your beliefs & your entire civilization," tweeted Sumit Kandel, whose profile describes him as a film trade analyst.

© Thomson Reuters 2019

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