Amazon.com Inc said on Tuesday (10) it had taken down listings of products such as briefs and doormats with Hindu sacred symbols, which were being sold on its overseas websites, following a furore on social media in India.
#BoycottAmazon was one of the top trending topics on Twitter in India, with users sharing screenshots of Amazon listings of doormats and underwear emblazoned with insignia including Ganesha and other symbols, which Hindus consider sacred.
“We are taking down the products in question,” Amazon said in a statement. “All sellers must follow our selling guidelines and those who do not will be subject to action including potential removal of their account.”
To be sure, several of the product listings on Amazon’s websites are controlled by sellers and not directly by the company.
“Dear Indians, if your religious feeling have been hurt, register a complaint with cyber police or with local police station,” Gaurav Goel, a spokesman for India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party tweeted on Tuesday.
India is a key growth market for Amazon where the company has committed to spending more than $6 billion. In addition, Amazon Web Services, the cloud computing unit of the US firm, is set to invest Rs 207.61 billion ($2.80 billion) in southern Telangana state to set up a
cluster of data centres.
