The wrong foot: After Indian flag flap, Amazon sparks outrage with Gandhi flip-flops

Barely a week after it was forced to remove doormats resembling the Indian tri-colour flag from its Canadian website, Amazon.com is in the news again for another seemingly offensive product: A pair of flip-flops bearing the face of India’s independence icon Mahatma Gandhi. The product has triggered a firestorm of protests in India, especially over social media, which local news portals have picked up.

Amazon’s Gandhi flip-flops spark anger in India

Flip-flops bearing the face of India’s independence icon Mahatma Gandhi for sale on Amazon triggered fresh outrage Sunday, days after the e-retail giant was forced to stop selling Indian flag doormats. On Wednesday, India demanded Amazon apologise for selling “insulting” doormats featuring India’s national flag, with Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj warning of tough action against the company.