Mumbai, Sep 19: In a sharp political offensive against the Central government’s decision to introduce a 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions above Rs 2,000, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday alleged that the administration has ensnared the nation in a carefully laid “digital trap”.

In a detailed statement on social media platform X, the MNS Chief accused the ruling MahaYuti coalition-led Maharashtra government of lulling Indian citizens into a false sense of security with free digital transactions, only to quietly impose transaction fees and taxes once people became dependent on the platform.

Tracing the trajectory of digital payments from the 2016 Demonetisation move to the nationwide push for UPI adoption, Raj Thackeray said that the trajectory was planned to make citizens reliant on digital architecture before levying charges.

“First came Demonetisation; then the UPI system was introduced with great fanfare to showcase the push for digital transactions. They trumpeted its success, basked in self-praise, got people habituated to it, and then suddenly announced that fees would apply. In short, they lulled citizens into a false sense of security and quietly ensnared them in a digital trap,” he remarked.

He said that he had consistently warned the public against assuming that zero-fee digital services would remain permanent, saying that the government’s process of “coming knocking at your door” to collect revenues has now officially begun.

He questioned why permanent budgetary provisions for long-term maintenance and cybersecurity were not established during the initial investment phase if the intent was genuinely to simplify transactions rather than monetise them later.

Rejecting the Union government’s claim that the 0.4 per cent MDR burden falls solely on merchants, Raj Thackeray asserted that the Union government possesses zero monitoring mechanisms to prevent small and large businesses from passing the extra operational cost onto consumers.

He sharply criticised the levy of 18 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on top of the MDR, accusing the Finance Ministry of attempting to “dip into citizens’ pockets wherever possible”.

Raising questions around international policy influences, Raj Thackeray cited Opposition’s allegations regarding US pressure and asked whether foreign card corporations and global payment networks influenced the policy decision.

Releasing a official government tweet screenshot from August 21, 2022 — which explicitly promised that UPI services would remain completely free — the MNS Chief called the recent policy shift evidence of “unclear and non-transparent intentions”.

He formally registered his party’s protest against the implementation of the Merchant Discount Rate.

Calling upon the trading community, small business owners, and retail associations to take a unified stand, Raj Thackeray urged merchants across Maharashtra and the nation to vehemently oppose paying the new transaction levies.

Mumbai, Sep 19: Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Harshwardhan Sapkal on Saturday demanded that the government immediately declare a drought, credit Rs 50,000 per hectare directly into farmers’ bank accounts, and grant a blanket loan waiver.

He warned that if these measures are not taken promptly, ministers will face public backlash and will not be permitted to move freely across the state.

Sapkal told reporters that a severe drought situation prevails in several parts of Maharashtra, with no rainfall recorded for over a month and a half, causing standing crops to wither completely.

He alleged that the BJP-led Mahayuti government remains indifferent to the crisis. While discussions take place during cabinet meetings, no concrete decisions have been made, and guardian ministers have failed to visit affected farmers.

“The government spends Rs 350 crore on CCTV installations for the Kumbh Mela, yet hesitates to release funds for farmers. Despite the desperate need, no decision was made to attempt cloud seeding,” he said.

Sapkal said public anger against the ruling coalition is at an all-time high, accusing the administration of caring only about corruption and commissions rather than citizens’ welfare.

He urged the government to act before the festive season and disburse aid before Dasara.

He sharply criticised the call to light lamps on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, questioning the administration’s performance over the past 12 years.

He pointed out that youth remain unemployed, women’s safety is compromised, farmers face ruin, the economy has deteriorated, and inflation continues to surge. “Celebrating birthdays while citizens are suffering in crisis is uncalled for,” Sapkal said.

He highlighted the hypocrisy of PM Modi previously urging the public to practice austerity, such as reducing oil consumption, limiting foreign travel, and avoiding gold purchases, while now asking people to light oil lamps for his birthday. He termed this an act of self-glorification and criticised the leadership for misleading the public.

The MPCC chief further accused the Election Commission of India of functioning as a tool for the ruling BJP. He asserted that implementing SIR threatens democracy by attempting to strip citizens of their right to vote.

Sapkal said the Commission’s functioning is leading toward lawlessness, adding that the Congress Party will firmly oppose these moves and continue to fight on the streets to protect democracy in the country.

Mumbai, Sep 19: Disha Salian’s father, Satish Salian, on Saturday slapped a Rs 500 defamation notice to Shiv Sena-UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray outside the latter’s Matoshree residence, over remarks made against the former as he is pursuing a fresh probe into his daughter’s death case.

Satish Salian and his lawyer Nilesh Ojha were not allowed to enter the Shiv Sena-UBT leader’s residence, so the notice was accepted by Thackeray’s advocate outside the building.

Speaking to reporters after serving the notice, Ojha claimed: “They (ShivSena-UBT members) had threatened us, saying they would not let us practice. So we came here (Matoshree) to show that we can serve a legal notice right at your home. Call as many goons as you want, let’s see what you do.”

Responding to Aaditya Thackeray’s allegations, Satish Salian’s lawyer said: “We have nothing to do with any politics. Now that the notice has been served, answer it…nobody could do a thing to us.”

The defamation notice concerns alleged false, malicious, and defamatory posts published by Aaditya Thackeray on his official X account on September 16 in English and Marathi. It accuses him of making allegations against Satish Salian regarding political motives and personal enmity in connection with the proceedings and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into the death of his daughter Disha Salian. The notice seeks an additional Rs 500 crore as compensation and damages.

Earlier on Saturday, Satish Salian said he was not afraid of “any Shiv Sainik”.

“They are human beings and I am human too. I am from Mumbai, so I have no reason to fear anyone,” he told media.

Meanwhile, his lawyer Nilesh Ojha had previously said that Satish Salian has written to the CBI, which is currently probing the case, requesting immediate police protection.

“Satish Salian wrote a letter to the CBI requesting immediate police protection for four people: Satish Salian, myself, former Narcotics Control Bureau Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede, and Ashutosh Pathak. He requested the CBI to take swift steps to provide us with police security,” he told media.

Ojha also said: “The Narcotics Control Bureau report states that Aaditya Thackeray is involved in the drug business. There are CCTV footages, eyewitness testimonies, and allegations of rape and murder against him. We are stating all this openly. Don’t you have legal provisions if this is false?”

“Once they (Thackeray) did approach court (against the allegations) but they had to apologise because their affidavit turned out to be false. What anyone says doesn’t affect us. Let them do whatever they want; we are following our legal path,” he added.