Bulldozers out in MP: 10 meat shops, homes of three accused demolished in Ujjain, Bhopal
Bhopal/Ujjain, Dec 15: Ten shops selling meat illegally in Ujjain and the Bhopal houses of three persons allegedly involved in the attack on a BJP functionary were bulldozed by the Madhya Pradesh administration, officials said on Friday.
The action in Ujjain came after Chief Minister Mohan Yadav asked authorities to clamp down on selling of meat in the open, they added.
The shops were demolished in Ujjain's Nagjhiri area during the day, an official said, adding that all those running such establishments without authorisation have been asked to down shutters or face action.
In Bhopal, the houses of three persons, identified as Farukh Raeen, Bilal and Aslam, were demolished, a local official said.
Raeen is the main accused in a case connected to the attack on BJP functionary Devendra Thakur following announcement of Assembly poll results of Bhopal Madhya seat, which was won by the Congress' Arif Masood.
Raeen and some others allegedly slashed Thakur's palm with a sword, the official said.
Raeen was arrested along with four others in the case and charged with attempt to murder. He has a total of 14 cases, including under the stringent National Security Act, against his name, the official added.
Raeen's name is also on the 'goonda list' of Bhopal's Habibganj police station, the official pointed out.
The houses of Raeen, Bilal and Aslam were demolished using bulldozers since they were constructed illegally on encroached land, he said.
New CM in Full Form 😎😎😎
— The Madhya Pradesh Index (@mp_index) December 14, 2023
Several meat stalls were removed in Baba Mahakaal's Nagri Ujjain earlier today following an order by New CM Mohan Yadav, directing a ban on sale of meat in the open.pic.twitter.com/vP8KiwuUHF https://t.co/z2PFTJyU1G
#Ujjain, MP: Loudspeakers mounted on police vehicles announce ban on sale of meat and fish in the open.
— Saba Khan (@ItsKhan_Saba) December 15, 2023
Around 10 #meatshops were also #demolished with bulldozers.
pic.twitter.com/NaWoXPE2NU
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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.
