Hoist Tricolour from Red Fort to mark Azad Hind anniversary, Netaji kin writes to Modi
Kolkata (PTI): Family members of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to repeat the hoisting of the National Flag from Red Fort on October 21 to mark the establishment of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind - the first free Government of United India - as it was done seven years ago, and make it an annual affair.
In an email communication sent to the Prime Minister's Office with a copy marked to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Convenor of The Open Platform for Netaji, Chandra Kumar Bose, appealed to Modi that while the nation celebrates the 82nd Anniversary of the establishment of the Azad Hind Government in 12 days, the Tricolour hoisting from Red Fort be made "mandatory".
"On the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of the Azad Hind Government, on 21st of October 2018, it was appreciated, that flag hoisting was done by you, Hon'ble Prime Minister, at the Red Fort to give recognition and to honour the martyrs and soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauz, who sacrificed their lives for India's freedom," Bose, also Netaji's grand nephew and a former BJP politician, wrote.
"As 21st of October 2025, is approaching, it is our humble request on behalf of the Bose family and people of our great nation, that flag hoisting at the Red Fort on 21st October must be made mandatory every year," he added.
The Provisional Government of Free India or, simply, Azad Hind, was a short-lived Japanese-controlled provisional government which was established in exile in Japan-occupied Singapore during World War II on October 21, 1943 under the leadership of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
It was part of the political movement originating in the 1940s outside India with the aim of allying with the Axis powers to liberate India from British rule.
Shortly after the formation of the provisional government, Free India declared war against the Allied forces on the Indo-Burma Front. Its military wing, the Indian National Army (INA), or the Azad Hind Fauj, went into action against the British Indian Army as part of the Imperial Japanese Army in the Imphal-Kohima sector.
Despite INA's initial success at the Battle of Imphal where it breached the British defence in Kohima and marched up to Moirang in Manipur, it suffered a subsequent catastrophic defeat in the hands of the Allied forces, prompting both the Japanese and the INA to retreat.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
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.
ALSO READ: Mexico's Congress approves higher tariffs on goods from India, China and non-FTA nations
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.
ALSO READ: Search operation ends in Anjaw truck accident, 20 bodies recovered
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.
