Punjab Congress President Criticizes Center Over UPI Tax Imposition
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Wading criticizes the central government for imposing a tax on UPI transactions over ₹2,000.
New Delhi, September 16 (Daily Kiran) : Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Wading has launched a scathing attack on the central government regarding the newly imposed tax on UPI transactions. In a post on the social media platform X, he questioned the necessity of levying charges on digital payments exceeding ₹2,000, despite claims that transactions below this threshold would remain tax-free.
Wading urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to burden the citizens and small businesses with new economic strains under pressure from the United States. He called for the immediate repeal of the UPI tax.
He also shared a video featuring Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who accused the BJP government and Prime Minister Modi of succumbing to pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Gandhi echoed Wading’s call for the withdrawal of the UPI tax.
Earlier, Congress leader Karti Chidambaram expressed concerns about the 0.4% MDR tax on merchant transactions over ₹2,000. He warned that this tax could gradually increase, creating a precedent for future taxation on transactions that previously had no charges. He emphasized that the burden of these taxes would ultimately fall on consumers, leading to inflation and rising prices.
Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal described the tax as a submission to U.S. interests, asserting that it penalizes the people of India.
Jharkhand government minister Radhakrishna Kishore stated that he would refrain from commenting on the matter until he thoroughly studied its implications and potential effects. He emphasized the need for careful preparation before taking a stance.
