Union Minister of Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday said the platforms were directed to immediately take down such listings, calling the sale “insensitive” and a violation of national sentiment. “Such insensitivity will not be tolerated,” Joshi wrote in a post on X.
“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,” Union Minister Joshi said.
The minister warned all online retailers to comply with Indian laws while conducting business.
The flagged items reportedly included flags and accessories bearing Pakistan’s national symbols, which were available for purchase on these platforms.
The move comes amid heightened national sentiment following Operation Sindoor — India’s retaliatory military strike on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) had written to Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi demanding a ban on the online sale of items bearing Pakistani national symbols.
Calling it “deeply disturbing,” CAIT said the sale of such items while Indian soldiers are risking their lives is an insult to national sentiment and the armed forces.
“This is not merely an oversight — it is a grave insult to our armed forces and a threat to national unity,” CAIT President B.C. Bhartia had written, urging the government to launch an investigation, ban such sales, and take strict action against violators.
