Govt Issues Warning to E-commerce Giants like Amazon and Flipkart, Over Sale of Pakistani Flags and Merchandise
Govt Issues Warning to E-commerce Giants like Amazon and Flipkart, Over Sale of Pakistani Flags and Merchandise
Following a request from CAIT, the Centre has directed online platforms like Amazon and Flipkart to remove products displaying Pakistani national symbols, citing concerns over national unity.
In a strong move to uphold national sentiments, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued formal notices to major e-commerce platforms including Amazon India, Flipkart, Ubuy India, Etsy, the Flag Company, and the Flag Corporation directing them to immediately remove Pakistani flags and related merchandise from their online marketplaces.
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.
— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) May 14, 2025
E-commerce platforms are hereby directed to immediately remove all… pic.twitter.com/03Q4FOxwCX
The action comes in response to a letter from the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which appealed to Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi to prohibit the sale of products featuring Pakistani national symbols. CAIT argued that such items could undermine national unity and should not be available to Indian consumers.
On May 14, Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi confirmed via social media platform X that the government had acted on CAIT’s concerns. He emphasized that e-commerce platforms must strictly comply with Indian laws, stating:
“The CCPA has issued notices to Amazon, Flipkart, Ubuy India, 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.”
This directive comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, with diplomatic ties strained and security concerns on the rise.
Earlier this month, on May 8, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting also issued an advisory to OTT platforms and digital media intermediaries operating in India, asking them to suspend all Pakistani-origin content. This includes films, web series, music, podcasts, and other streaming content, citing national security concerns.
Together, these moves indicate a broader governmental stance against the circulation of Pakistani symbols and content across public platforms in India, both digital and commercial.
