Amazon issued a statement on Monday in response to a cover story by RSS-linked weekly Panchjanya which likened the e-commerce giant to the 'East India Company'.
In the cover story titled 'East India Company 2.0', the RSS-linked weekly likened the operations of Amazon in India to that of the East India Company. This edition of Panchjanya will hit the stands on October 3.
"Whatever the East India Company did in the 18th century to capture India, the same is visible in the activities of Amazon," the cover story read.
It went further to allege that Amazon wants to monopolise the Indian market and has "started taking initiatives for seizing the economic, political and personal freedom" of Indian citizens.
Responding to the cover story, Amazon issued a statement on Monday, saying: "During the pandemic three lakh new sellers joined us... of which 75,000 were local neighbourhood shops (dukaans) from 450+ cities (selling) furniture, stationery, consumer electronics, beauty products, mobile phones, garments, medical products."
"Amazon's exports program is witnessing rapid momentum... today there are 70,000+ exporters from metros as well as Tier II, III and IV cities, selling crores of 'made in India' products to customers in 200 countries across the world - truly taking (it) global," Amazon's statement goes on to add.
Earlier on Monday, Hitesh Shankar of the Panchjanya posted a picture of the weekly's latest edition on Twitter. In a video message posted through Panchjanya's official handle, he defended the cover story as "factual".
"It is a factual story which we have put before the readers. How did over 40,000 shops close due to one company," asked Hitesh Shankar.
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) also endorsed the cover story with CAIT national president BC Bhartia saying, "This is exactly what East India Company did... both Amazon and Flipkart want to invade our country's economic and social culture."
0 Comments