RSS linked Panchajanya calls Amazon-East India Company's second version

New Delhi: After attacking Infosys in an article, accusing the company of an "anti-national conspiracy" over glitches in the new tax returns filing system, RSS-linked weekly, Panchjanya, in its latest edition, has found its new target on Amazon.

The journal's editor Hitesh Shankar tweeted an image of the new cover story, which features Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and the headline "#Amazon: East India Company 2.0."

The magazine with roots in RSS, the ruling BJP's ideological mentor -has also alleged that the firm has paid crores of rupees in bribes for favourable government policies. The magazine 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 article titled "East India Company 2.0" reads.

Claiming that Amazon wants to establish its monopoly in the Indian market, it says, "For doing so, it has started taking initiatives for seizing the economic, political and personal freedom of the Indian citizens." Hitting out at Amazon's video platform, Prime Video, the article says it has been releasing movies and television series that are against the Indian culture.

It also alleges that Amazon has established many proxy entities and "there are reports that it has distributed crores in bribes for policies in its favour". Amazon is locked in a legal tussle over the takeover of Future Group and is facing a probe by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

There have been reports that the US e-commerce giant is investigating alleged bribes paid by its legal representatives in India and it spent a staggering Rs 8,546 crore or USD 1.2 billion in legal expenses for maintaining a presence in the country during 2018-20.

The main opposition party, Congress, has demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the alleged bribery case involving Amazon.

Earlier, RSS-affiliate Swadeshi Jagaran Manch had also demanded action against e-commerce players like Amazon for circumventing laws detrimental to the interests of traders and indulging in unethical business practices.

Earlier in September, an article in Panchjanya lashed out at Infosys - widely seen as one of India's biggest corporate and information technology stories in the global business community.

The editor of the magazine, Hitesh Shankar, backed the article and said if Infosys had objections "it should present its side by urging for a more thorough investigation".

The article prompted RSS spokesperson Sunil Ambekar to tweet: "Panchjanya is not the mouthpiece of the RSS and the said article or opinions expressed in it should not be linked with the RSS."

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called the article and allegations about Infosys "not right".