Govt Directs E-commerce Platforms to Remove Pakistani Flags, Cites National Unity Concerns
New Delhi, May 16:
In a decisive move aimed at preserving national sentiments and unity, 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, instructing them to immediately remove products featuring Pakistani national symbols such as flags and related merchandise.
The directive follows a formal appeal by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which raised concerns over the availability of items displaying Pakistani flags and emblems on Indian e-commerce platforms. In its letter to Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, CAIT argued that the sale of such products could potentially harm national unity and should not be accessible to Indian consumers.
Responding promptly to the request, Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi confirmed on May 14 via social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that the government had acted on CAIT’s concerns. “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,” Joshi stated. “Such insensitivity will not be tolerated. E-commerce platforms are hereby directed to immediately remove all such content and adhere to national laws.”
The CCPA’s move comes at a time of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, with diplomatic ties remaining strained and national security concerns on the rise.
In a related development, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, on May 8, issued an advisory to OTT platforms and digital media intermediaries operating within India. The advisory urged them to suspend all content originating from Pakistan — including films, web series, music, podcasts, and other streaming materials — citing security implications.
Together, these directives signal a broader and more assertive stance by the Indian government against the distribution and visibility of Pakistani-origin symbols and content across both commercial and digital platforms in the country.
