In a move that has sparked widespread national debate, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued stern notices to leading e-commerce platforms, including Amazon India, Flipkart, Ubuy India, Etsy, The Flag Company, and The Flag Corporation, for selling Pakistani flags and related merchandise.
The action, announced by Union Minister of Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi on X today, comes amid heightened tensions following India’s military operation, Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan.
The controversy erupted against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor. The operation has intensified India-Pakistan tensions, making the sale of Pakistani flags and logo-bearing merchandise on Indian e-commerce platforms a deeply sensitive issue.
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) had earlier, on May 13, flagged the issue in a letter to Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, calling the sale of such items “insensitive” and a “disturbing situation.”
In his X post, Minister Joshi expressed strong disapproval, stating, “Such insensitivity will not be tolerated.” He directed the e-commerce platforms to “immediately remove all such content and adhere to national laws,” emphasising the need for strict compliance with the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which governs e-commerce operations in India. The minister’s statement was also shared in Kannada, underscoring the government’s intent to reach a broader audience and reinforce the seriousness of the directive.
