The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has urged the central government to promptly prohibit online retailing of Pakistani flags and its related items on e-commerce sites such as Amazon and Flipkart. The plea comes amid India's continued "Operation Sindoor," an operation launched by India following the recent terror strike at Pahalgam.
The CAIT expressed its concerns in a letter to Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday. They highlighted the alarming presence of Pakistani flags and logo-printed items, such as mugs and T-shirts, on prominent e-commerce platforms.
The traders' organization pointed out that this is especially shocking when Indian armed personnel are directly involved in Operation Sindoor, a mission of vital national interest against Pakistan.
"I write to convey my profound anxiety regarding a subject that attacks at the very heart of our national ethos and sovereignty. It has emerged that Pakistani flags, logo-print mugs, and T-shirts are being freely sold on prominent e-commerce websites like Amazon and Flipkart," BC Bhartia, National President of CAIT, wrote in his letter.
He also said, "This alarming situation takes place even while our brave troops are themselves on active duty for Operation Sindoor, a task of utmost national significance against Pakistan."
Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7th and entailed targeted strikes against several terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Operation Sindoor was a response to the April 22nd Pahalgam terror attack, which saw 26 innocent lives lost, mostly tourists.
The CAIT argues that Indian soldiers are making immense sacrifices to protect the country's borders, demonstrating extraordinary valor. In this context, it's unacceptable for e-retailers to sell items featuring the symbol of an enemy country, making their actions not only inappropriate but also objectionable.
The traders' association feels that such business is evidence of a gross lack of respect for the honor of the armed forces, the sovereignty of India, and the patriotic feelings of Indians.
"Such behavior on the part of e-commerce platforms amounts to an open disrespect for the dignity of our armed forces, the sovereignty of India, and the sentiments of all patriotic Indian citizens," CAIT stated in its letter. "This is not an error — it is an insult to our armed forces and a threat to national harmony. It is an open disrespect for India's sovereignty and patriotic feelings."
In order to overcome this problem, CAIT has called upon the government to make the following instant measures:
CAIT is convinced that this matter goes beyond commercial freedom and is really a question of national pride and security. The group has demanded quick and firm action from the government, stating that inaction may adversely affect public morale and trigger more outrage among patriotic citizens.
"This is a question of national honor, not commercial freedom," CAIT concluded, underlining the urgency of the matter.
As of today, May 14, 2025, the central government has yet to issue any official response to CAIT's appeal. Nonetheless, the matter has attracted quite a lot of attention from most media outlets and is likely to be taken into consideration by the appropriate authorities.
Online marketplaces Amazon and Flipkart have also made no comments yet on the issue. The decision on this appeal can have serious implications for what kinds of products are sold on Indian online platforms, especially in relation to goods involving countries with which India has frayed diplomatic relationships.