Ashutosh Rana Backs Naseeruddin Shah: "We Should Listen To Him, Think"
NEW DELHI: Actor Ashutosh Rana has come out in support of Naseeruddin Shah, who is facing a backlash over his comments on mob violence in the country and also protests by right-wing groups. Ashutosh Rana said people should be able to speak their mind without fear or "social trial".
"Everyone should have a right to share their thoughts with their friends or other people without any fear. If our brothers or friends say something, we should not just listen to them but also think about it," Ashutosh Rana told reporters.
"If someone is speaking his mind and there is a debate, will it improve the country's economic situation," he added.
In an interview aired by a non-profit Karwan-e-Mohabbat last week, Naseeruddin Shah, 68, had said there were places in the country where the death of a cow is given more importance than that of a policeman. "There is complete impunity for those who take law into their own hands," he had said, apparently referring to the killing of a police officer in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandhsharh earlier this month in mob frenzy over the killing of cows.
"I feel anxious for my children because tomorrow if a mob surrounds them and asks, 'Are you a Hindu or a Muslim?' they will have no answer. It worries me that I don't see the situation improving anytime soon" he added.
Naseeruddin Shah was instantly targeted by right wing groups; some asked him to leave the country. The Navnirman Sena booked him a one-way ticket to Pakistan and Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey likened him to a character he had played in the 1999 movie "Sarfarosh".
The veteran actor's keynote address at the Ajmer LitFest on Friday evening was cancelledamid protests by right wing groups including the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha.
The UP administration has been criticized over its response to the killing of police inspector Subodh Kumar Singh on December 3 by a mob that went wild over the discovery of cow carcasses. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a meeting with senior officials just after the policeman's murder, ordered strict action against those behind the cow carcasses.
courtesy: ndtv.com
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India proposes preferential trade agreement with Mexico to deal with high tariffs
New Delhi (PTI): India has proposed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Mexico to help domestic exporters deal with the steep tariffs announced by the South American country, a top government official said on Monday.
Mexico has decided to impose steep import tariffs - ranging from about 5 per cent to as high as 50 per cent on a wide range of goods (about 1,463 tariff lines) from countries that do not have free trade agreements with Mexico, including India, China, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that India has engaged with the country on the issue.
"Technical level talks are on...The only fast way forward is to try to get a preferential trade agreement (PTA) because an FTA (free trade agreement) will take a lot of time. So we are trying to see what can be a good way forward," he told reporters here.
While in an FTA two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on maximum number of goods traded between them, in a PTA, duties are cut or removed on a limited number of products.
Trading partners of Mexico cannot file a compliant against the decision on imposing high tariffs as they are WTO (World Trade Organisation) compatible.
The duties are within their bound rates, he said, adding that their primary target was not India.
"We have proposed a PTA because its a WTO-compatible way forward... we can do a PTA and try to get concessions that are required for Indian supply chains and similarly offer them concessions where they have export interests in India," Agrawal said.
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Citing support for local production and correction of trade imbalances, Mexico has approved an increase in MFN (most favoured nation) import tariffs (5-50 per cent) with effect from January 1, 2026 on 1,455 tariff lines (or product categories) within the WTO framework, targeting non-FTA partners.
Preliminary estimates suggest that this affects India's around USD 2 billion exports to Mexico particularly -- automobile, two-wheelers, auto parts, textiles, iron and steel, plastics, leather and footwear.
The measure is also aimed at curbing Chinese imports.
India-Mexico merchandise trade totalled USD 8.74 billion in 2024, with exports USD 5.73 billion, imports USD 3.01 billion, and a trade surplus of USD 2.72 billion.
The government has been continuously and comprehensively assessing Mexico's tariff revisions since the issue emerged, engaging stakeholders, safeguarding the interests of Indian exporters, and pursuing constructive dialogue to ensure a stable trade environment benefiting businesses and consumers in both countries.
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Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai has said that Mexico's decision is a matter of concern, particularly for sectors like automobiles and auto components, machinery, electrical and electronics, organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and plastics.
"Such steep duties will erode our competitiveness and risk, disrupting supply chains that have taken years to develop," Sahai said, adding that this development also underlines the little urgency for India and Mexico to fast-track a comprehensive trade agreement.
Domestic auto component manufacturers will face enhanced cost pressures with Mexico hiking duties on Indian imports, according to industry body ACMA.
