Congress protests in Nagpur against proposed UPI transaction charges

Congress workers staged a strong protest in Nagpur against the central government's proposal to levy additional charges on UPI payments. The demonstration was organised by the state industry-traders cell and the Central Nagpur committee, with a large number of workers, office-bearers and traders taking part. The protest questioned the central government's push for Digital India and a cashless economy.

The demonstration was led by Atul Kotecha, president of the state industry-trade cell. Protesters raised slogans against the Modi government and demanded that no additional charge be levied on UPI transactions, chanting slogans calling for the UPI charge to be withdrawn along with other slogans against the government. During the protest, Congress workers attempted to burn an effigy of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, which police seized. There was scuffling between protesters and police, creating tension for some time.

Atul Kotecha said the central government had, through Digital India, encouraged people to move from cash transactions to digital payments. He said that if an additional charge is now levied on UPI payments, it could hit ordinary customers as well as small traders. Kotecha noted that small shopkeepers are already struggling because of inflation, rising costs and financial strain, and that an added cost on digital payments would only deepen traders' difficulties. Congress demanded that the government withdraw the proposed UPI charge immediately.

Congress workers accused the police administration of trying to suppress the protest. The administration's side on the reasons behind the police action during the protest was not available in this report.

The protest was joined by a large number of Congress office-bearers, corporators, workers and traders, including Kailash Jogani, Govind Pasari, Pankaj Munier, Atul Lad, Waseem Khan, Saida Nizam Ansari, Suhas Nankatkar, Vivek Nikose, Rohit Yadav, Shrikant Dolke, Rinku Jain and Mehul Advani.

Congress reiterated that it will continue to oppose any additional charge on UPI payments and has demanded that the government clarify its position and withdraw the charge.