New Delhi: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has served notices to Amazon India, Flipkart, Ubuy India, Etsy, The Flag Company, and The Flag Corporation for selling Pakistani national flags and related merchandise online. The action comes at a time of heightened patriotic sentiment in the country following India’s recent Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory strike targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Union Minister of Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi announced the crackdown on social media, saying, “Such insensitivity will not be tolerated.” He further confirmed that platforms had been instructed to immediately remove all listings involving Pakistan’s national symbols.
E-Commerce Platforms Warned Over ‘Insensitivity’
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Joshi wrote, “The CCPA has issued notices to @amazonIN, @Flipkart, @UbuyIndia, @Etsy, The Flag Company and The Flag Corporation over the sale of Pakistani flags and related merchandise. Such insensitivity will not be tolerated. E-commerce platforms are hereby directed to immediately remove all such content and adhere to national laws.”
Have a look at his post here:
The flagged items reportedly included national flags and accessories showcasing Pakistan’s emblems, which were listed for sale to Indian consumers. The ministry has warned all e-commerce operators to align with national laws and public sentiment in their business practices.
Trader Body Calls for Complete Ban
The Centre’s action follows a letter from the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which condemned the online sale of such items as a direct affront to Indian soldiers and national unity. CAIT President BC Bhartia called the listings “deeply disturbing,” saying, “This is not merely an oversight, it is a grave insult to our armed forces and a threat to national unity.”
CAIT had urged both Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi to impose a ban, initiate a probe, and take punitive action against those violating national sensitivities.
