Oppo India faces public ire after employee allegedly disrespects the National Flag

Chinese electronics manufacturer Oppo faced major backlash on Tuesday after an employee from their Noida unit in Uttar Pradesh allegedly “tore the National Flag and dumped it in a dustbin.”

While the details of the case are still unclear, a report in India Today says that soon after the incident, people from nearby areas reached the site to protest against the company for disrespecting the National Flag. The impromptu mob was seen shouting slogans and carrying national flags.

Soon after, social media joined in the protest as many were enraged by the “anti-national” actions displayed by the company employee.

According to a report in BGR , Oppo India said that they were “investigating the situation and will share an update once we verify all the facts.”

Oppo chinese head insult our indian flag... Thats why indian youth go high. And do strike in front of oppo...indian youth not compromise pic.twitter.com/bktCzbP6LS

— Sunny Gujjar (@SunnyGu29844962) March 28, 2017

Many on Twitter and Facebook appealed to new Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Hindutva hardliner Yogi Adityanath to look into the matter.

@myogiadityanath, Indian flag torn by Chinese person in noida oppo office# disrespect of indian flag# need action

— prateek bhardwaj (@pratsb92) March 28, 2017

Outside #Oppo office in #Noida. Riot-like situation because of insult to national flag by a Chinese official #nationalism pic.twitter.com/NPCFHyAd6L

— Ishveena (@IshveenaSingh) March 28, 2017

The incident is yet another example of the growing wave of ‘hyper-nationalism’ in the country, where just the whiff of ‘anti-national’ activity is enough to fuel protests.

Chinese employee of @oppo at Noida torn off the Indian National Flag and dumped in dustbin.
People have reached the site with Flags. pic.twitter.com/vLT1DjciAv

— Rishi (@RishiUvaach) March 28, 2017

Earlier this year in January, online retail giant Amazon drew ire from India’s Minister for External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, for selling doormats with the Indian flag printed on them. She had  threatened to not allow Amazon employees to travel to India if the online giant did not take down from its Canadian site, doormats and rugs with the Indian flag on them. She also threatened to rescind visas of the staff in India if Amazon did not comply with her threat.

@myogiadityanath one oppo official tear our national flag n put in dustbin in sec63 oppo company please take strict action angst culprits

— Mukesh Kumar (@Mukesh8632) March 28, 2017