NEW DELHI: Outrage seems to be the flavour of the season. Days after jewellery brand Tanishq was roundly criticised for a Diwali-themed ad campaign that promoted cracker-free celebrations, it’s now e-commerce giant Amazon’s turn to face online brickbats. Twitterverse was abuzz today with calls of #BoycottAmazon after pictures of the e-tailer selling doormats with Om printed on it started doing the rounds.
A section of social media slammed Amazon for disrespecting Hindu culture by demeaning the auspicious Om symbol in this manner. Others posted screenshots of themselves deleting the e-commerce app from their smartphones. The trend led to people sharing further incriminating content on the retail platform: of various products and apparel like shorts and underwear emblazoned with images of Hindu gods and goddesses.
I #BoycottAmazon for defaming hinduism pic.twitter.com/S7Pur7a0yz
— TRINATH MISHRA (@TRINATHMISHRA16) November 10, 2020
Amazon has hurt the sentiments of India and Hindus.For this, all Indians should boycott Amazon. @amazonIN @amazon #BoycottAmazon pic.twitter.com/RyaylBnflt
— preeti gurjar (@preeti7401) November 10, 2020
#BoycottAmazon Fipkart is a better counter-part pic.twitter.com/SKxGKEM2Lu
— अरे भाई भाई भाई (@MaaKaBhosdaaa) November 10, 2020
Yet others pointed out the double standards of those calling out Amazon for purportedly offending Hindu sentiments, alleging they’re the same people who burst crackers bearing images of goddess Laxmi (or Laxmi bomb) and leave the streets littered with firecracker remains after Diwali.
#BoycottAmazon This is really Famous banne ki Ninja Technique, bcos They are the same People who burst Firecrackers with Laxmi Mata photo on ( #LaxmiBomb ) it and let the trash Left on the Road after they get orgasm by burning cracker ( Joke ) so where is Hinduism there ? pic.twitter.com/aioQRVlYsT
— SUMEET KUMAR (@sumeetkumar2524) November 10, 2020
For the record, it should be noted that these products are not available in India, but sold on the European and American portals of the site.
This isn't the first time Amazon has landed itself in hot water by getting on the wrong side of Indian customers. Earlier in January, pictures had surfaced of the e-commerce giant selling bathroom rugs and doormats with photos of Lord Ganesha. In 2019, toilet seat covers and mats with Hindu gods were spotted on the platform.
In 2017, then external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had demanded an unconditional apology from the online retailer for selling Indian flag-themed doormats. She'd threatened to stop issuing visas to Amazon officials if the products were not withdrawn from the site.
