Baba Ramdev calls for Amazon ban in India for 'hurting Hindu sentiments'

Mumbai, May 18, 2019:

After the revelation that toilet seat covers and other items emblazoned with images of Hindu gods and goddesses are being sold on the largest e-commerce website Amazon.com, the retailer has faced severe backlash on social media in India for its 'anti-Hindu' position.

Thousands of Twitter users backed a call for a boycott of the U.S. retailer, making #BoycottAmazon India's top trending topic on Twitter. These calls for a boycott were headed by Baba Ramdev of Patanjali fame. Baba Ramdev also lashed out against the multinational giants on Twitter with the stated that "Amazon insults Hindu".

Some users even tagged Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, urging her to take action against the company.

Amazon, the world's biggest online retailer finally relented 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 the Indian tricolor 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 U.S. 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.

Meanwhile, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is yet to respond to the calls for boycott. It may be mentioned here that Amazon uses third-party vendors to sell products.