Amazon's Rejoinder For RSS Magazine's "East India Company 2.0" Barb
NDTV
Earlier today the front cover of the latest issue of Panchjanya - a RSS-linked magazine - showed Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and the headline "#Amazon: East India Company 2.0"
Amazon on Monday afternoon responded to a controversial article by RSS-linked magazine Panchjanya that attacked the e-commerce giant as "East India Company 2.0" and labelled it a "threat to indigenous entrepreneurship, economic freedom and (Indian) culture".
To counter allegations its practices stifle local traders, Amazon highlighted its "positive impact on small businesses... including sellers, artisans and weavers, and delivery and logistics partners".
"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..." the company statement said.
Amazon also said highlighted its export program, which it said helped over 70,000 Indian businesses - many from smaller cities and towns - sell 'made in India' products across the world.