Bengaluru: Minister Priyank Kharge slams MP Tejasvi Surya for supporting suspended PDO
Bengaluru: Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge has criticised BJP MP Tejasvi Surya for publicly supporting a government employee suspended for participating in an RSS route march, calling it a “disturbing endorsement of service rule violations.”
The controversy arose after Tejasvi Surya tweeted in support of a Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) who was suspended for attending an RSS event. In his post, the Bengaluru South MP wrote that he had spoken to the suspended officer and assured him of personal legal assistance to challenge the “illegal suspension” before the appropriate tribunal and courts.
Surya further claimed that several High Courts had clarified that government employees have the right to participate in RSS programmes, adding that “the Siddaramaiah government’s action will not stand judicial scrutiny.” He also asserted that the BJP was ready to fight the matter legally.
Responding to Surya’s remarks, Minister Kharge took to X (formerly Twitter) and said, “It is interesting that a BJP MP is openly supporting government servants who violate the service rules set by the state government. This proves my earlier point.”
Kharge also cited key provisions of the Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, which mandate political neutrality among public servants. “No government servant shall be a member of or otherwise associated with any political party, nor shall they participate in any political activity. They must also ensure that their family members do not engage in activities against the government,” he noted.
Kharge emphasised that if any dispute arises over whether an organisation’s activities are political in nature, the final decision rests with the government.
Hmmmmm…… interesting that BJP MPs are coming forward and defending people who are defying the service conduct rules laid down by the State Govt. This itself proves my point.
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) October 19, 2025
Anyway the rules states.
“No Government Servant shall be a member of, or be otherwise associated with,… pic.twitter.com/ryW21fK44B
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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.
