E-commerce cowhide on VHP radar

Debate started when @RSS_Org tweeted that govt should take action against Myntra for selling shoes made from cowhide

Vinod Bansal, national spokesperson, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), told the Business Standard that e-commerce marketplaces would be monitored to check use of cowhide in leather products they sell.

Cowhide is strong leather made from the skin of a cow. The cow is worshipped by many Hindus. If these sites refuse to remove those items, groups such as VHP and some others could take legal action against them, he said. A debate on cowhide fashion accessories being sold online had started on Thursday after a Twitter handle, @RSS_Org (not the official twitter handle of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), said online fashion portal Myntra was selling shoes made from cowhide. In the tweet, it was demanded the government act against Myntra. Supporters of the group started #BanCowLeatherShoes, which trended later in the day. The RSS on its official twitter handle said it did not subscribe to the views expressed on @RSS_Org. Its seniors would not comment on the issue. VHP’s Bansal said, “Any product made from the cow, which is sacred to Hindu religion, cannot be sold online or offline. It hurts religious sentiments and is against the law. Online marketplaces need to be careful of what they sell.” Soon after the tweet by @RSS_Org, Myntra replied in a tweet that the product was made from imported leather and the sale was not illegal.

Senior officials at Myntra said they were abiding by all the rules and had not taken down from their site any products by international brands which are made from cowhide.