Canadian arm of E-commerce giant Amazon today pulled back Indian flag themed door mats after a warning from external affairs minister Sushma Sawaraj that India will not issue visa to its officials, but in USA they are still selling shoes, and shoelace metal hoops bearing a likeness to the Indian Tricolour .
“The product described as “Chukka Canvas shoes”, priced at $43.99 (Rs 3,000 approximately), and shoe lace accessories ($4.49 or Rs 300) are available on Amazon from a Los Angeles-based company N.Y.L.A.,” said an Indian media report soon after the photos of the shoes became famous online on the web-based social networking.
Disrespect to the national flag is a punishable offence in India and can attract three-year jail term and a fine or both, according to The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
Apart from Amazon, an American online retailer, Café Press, was also found also selling T-shirts for canines with the Indian national emblem imprinted on them. The product is listed as “Indian coat of arms seal dog t-shirt” and is priced at $19.99 (Rs 1362).
The State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005 makes the use of “the emblem for the purpose of any trade, business, calling or profession or in the title of any patent, or in any trade mark or design, except in such cases and under such conditions as may be prescribed,” a punishable offence.
According to ‘The Prevention of Insults to National Honor Act , 1971,’ if any one found disrespecting the national flag could lend him/herself in jail term of 3 years & a fine or even both.
Sawaraj, however, is yet to take a cognizance of the media reports.
