Modi govt bowing before US over UPI charges: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader says Modi should show courage and reverse MDR decision
New Delhi: Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the government has bowed before the United States by ending the zero-Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) regime for UPI merchant transactions.
According to Kashmir Media Service, under the new framework, a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) will apply to specified merchant UPI payments above Rs 2,000 from October 15. UPI, or Unified Payments Interface, is India’s instant digital payment system that enables people and businesses to send and receive money directly between bank accounts using a mobile phone, often through a UPI ID or QR code.
Rahul Gandhi, in a video posted on X, demanded the withdrawal of the MDR charge. He said, “The government has bowed before America and is allowing US companies to make huge profits.”
Rahul Gandhi expressed serious concern over the Modi government’s move, saying that it had decided to “lie down before US President Donald Trump”. He further said that by introducing the charge on UPI payments, the Modi government was imposing an additional burden on Indians while creating opportunities for US companies to make huge profits.
Rahul Gandhi demanded that the Modi government immediately withdraw the charge. He said, “Modi ji, please stop lying down before America, show some courage and withdraw the UPI tax.”
Another Congress leader, Jairam Ramesh, also questioned whether the move was intended to help US-based card companies compete with UPI. He also raised concerns over proposed US tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, including India.
