Chinese handset maker Oppo said it has sacked an employee who "discarded the Indian flag from the table" at its Noida Sector 63 plant.The company said in a statement on Wednesday, "Based on the recent incident and after thorough investigation with the concerned authorities, we have found that a worker discarded the Indian flag from the table during regular external material check."
Referring to the incident which allegedly took place on Monday night, the company further said, "We have zero tolerance for such matters and have taken strict action in terminating the individual and continue working very closely with the authorities on the matter."
A case has been registered and investigation is going on, Noida's superintendent of police Dinesh Yadav told ET. "A Chinese person is named in the case... We are collecting evidence and getting the CCTV footage of the place," he said.
Meanwhile, the Chinese government on Wednesday said it hopes India will "properly" resolve the issue at Oppo and safeguard its "legitimate rights" as per law. "Company officials are in touch with the local police," Chinese foreign ministry's spokesperson Lu Kang said at a media briefing in Beijing.
"The Chinese government always asks its Chinese enterprises and staff overseas to abide by local law, regulations and respect local practices and customs," he said.
Oppo said it regretted the incident, which, it said, in no way represents the company's position. "Oppo has deep respect for India and its culture, and it continues to obey the applicable laws and regulations in India and will not tolerate any misconduct," it said in the statement.
The company said the incident did not impact manufacturing at the plant, where it makes smartphones for local consumption. The incident triggered protests in front of company's Noida office, while some people took to social media to slam Oppo for its alleged anti-India actions.
Some demanded strict action by the government against the company, while a few reached out to the newly appointed UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Twitter and asked him to look into the matter.
Hoisting and use (including misuse and insult) of the National Flag is regulated by the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and the Flag Code of India.
Oppo, which has rapidly risen up the ranks to be counted among the top five smartphone makers in India, said its priority is the well-being of its employees and the community it serves.
The company, which entered the Indian market in early 2014, has become the fourth biggest player, with 8.6% market share, according to the latest data from analyst IDC.
Having acquired sponsorship rights in the national cricket team for five years, in a Rs 1,079-crore deal, it plans to begin manufacturing at a more granular level besides entering into the online sales segment.
The company, which surpassed Apple and Samsung in China to become the No. 1 smartphone brand, has similar ambitions in India, where the market is led by the South Korean player Samsung. It is now planning a 1,000-acre industrial park with an investment of more than Rs 1,400 crore. Part of a long-term plan, operations in this park are expected to begin in the next two to three years.
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