Minister Priyank Kharge alleges abuse, threats over demand to ban RSS events in public places
Bengaluru: Karnataka Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Priyank Kharge has accused supporters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of sending him abusive and threatening messages following his call for a ban on RSS programmes in public spaces and government premises.
Kharge had recently written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging the state to prohibit RSS activities in public places, alleging that the organisation spreads “divisive ideology” among youth. In a post on his personal ‘X’ account on Tuesday, he said he had been receiving threat calls and messages ever since the letter became public.
On Wednesday morning, Kharge released a video message questioning whether trainees at the RSS’s shakhas (branches) were being taught to verbally abuse others’ mothers and sisters. “Are BJP leaders like B.Y. Vijayendra, R. Ashoka, C.T. Ravi, V. Sunil Kumar, Pratap Simha and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy ready to endorse similar abuse directed at the mothers of Prime Minister Modi or Mohan Bhagwat?” he asked.
Kharge said the abusive messages were being sent mostly by young men from economically weaker backgrounds, claiming they were being “used” by the RSS. “While the children of BJP leaders are building their future, those from poor families are being pushed into such abusive acts. If I file a case, the young man who sent the message will suffer, while those who instigated him will remain unaffected,” he said in the video.
The minister clarified that his opposition was not against any individual but against what he termed a “malignant mindset” that must be countered through the teachings of Buddha, Basavanna and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. “My fight is not against a person but against a toxic mentality. The youth who have fallen prey to this mindset must be rescued,” he said.
Rejecting attempts to intimidate him, Kharge said he would not be deterred by abuse or threats. “My political struggle is not about power but about philosophy. I will continue to speak out against the RSS mindset and protect the youth from falling into its trap,” he added.
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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.
