Mumbai, Sep 19: Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Centre over the introduction of a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select UPI transactions, alleging that the move would ultimately burden consumers and benefit global payment giants.

In an editorial published in its mouthpiece Saamana, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party described the levy of a 0.4 per cent fee on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 as a “semantic cover-up”, rejecting the government’s contention that the charge applies only to merchants and not directly to consumers.

The editorial pointed out that, like fuel excise duties and GST, merchants will ultimately pass these costs onto everyday buyers. It alleged that Indian digital transaction infrastructure is being handed over to global US financial giants like Visa and Mastercard. It labelled the transaction fee as an indirect “tribute” or extortion paid to strengthen the US economy at the expense of India’s middle class and retail traders.

Linking the domestic policy shift to foreign relations, the Thackeray faction claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly yielded to US pressure. It cited instances such as halting oil purchases from Iran, navigating US trade tariffs, and conceding to diplomatic demands from the Trump administration as evidence of a compromised foreign policy stance.

“The decision to impose a 0.4 per cent fee on UPI transactions was taken solely to flatter U.S. fintech companies. An investigation must be conducted to uncover how many thousands of crores in brokerage Indian leaders and their children will receive daily from these companies. This implies that Indian brokers must have a share in the extortion received by the U.S. — this is the new form of national service! For this, common citizens and small retailers of the country have been sacrificed,” said the editorial.

Calling the image of Vishwaguru fragile and artificial, the editorial slammed pro-government narratives that celebrated foreign adoption of UPI in countries like Singapore, the UAE, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka, contrasting those celebrations with the reality of domestic fee hikes.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena highlighted that while the government boasts of promoting a cashless, digital economy, it is systematically draining the middle and working classes through demonetization, GST implementation, inflation, and now transaction tariffs. It added that under the guise of digital transformation, thousands of crores will be extracted from citizens to serve corporate and foreign intermediaries.

Mumbai, Sep 19: An Accident Death Report (ADR) has been filed in connection with the case linked to the death of a second-year student of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, officials said on Saturday.

The student was found dead in the IIT Powai campus on Friday evening. This reportedly happened after he was caught using a mobile phone during an examination, by the authorities.

His death a few hours after that, triggered protests by students on the institute’s Powai campus. The incident marks the third reported suicide at the IIT Powai campus in the past six months.

The deceased student was identified as Sahil Wakode, a resident of Maharashtra’s Yavatmal who was pursuing his second year in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering.

Officials said that his family was informed and has arrived in Mumbai. Their statements are being recorded.

Additionally, police are recording the statements of the students at the campus.

The body of the deceased has been sent for post-mortem.

According to the institute, Wakode had uploaded an examination question paper to ChatGPT in an attempt to obtain answers while the test was underway.

IIT Bombay said no disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against him following the incident. The matter was discussed with the student by the examination instructor and the Head of the Department.

They counselled him and assured him that the incident would not have an adverse impact on his academic career, the institute said.

After the discussion, Wakode returned to his hostel room. He was subsequently found dead in the room later that evening.

In a statement, IIT Bombay expressed grief over the student’s death and said it was providing support to those affected by the incident.

“The Institute is extending support to the student’s friends, classmates, faculty members, and others affected by this tragic incident,” it said, adding that the circumstances surrounding the death were being examined by the appropriate authorities.

Following the incident, a group of students gathered on the campus and launched a protest, alleging that the administration had not disclosed all details surrounding the circumstances of the student’s death.

Some protesters claimed that Wakode had been threatened with a one-year suspension over the examination incident. They alleged that such a suspension could have required him to leave the hostel and stay outside the campus.

Students further claimed that disciplinary action of this nature could potentially have delayed completion of his engineering course beyond the standard four-year duration.

Protesting students alleged that the fear and pressure associated with possible disciplinary consequences may have played a role in the student’s death. However, these allegations have not been independently verified.

Another student claimed that several such incidents had occurred on campus this year and questioned whether sufficient steps were being taken to understand their causes.

Police personnel were deployed in large numbers on the campus following the protest.

An investigation is underway, and further details are awaited.

Mumbai, Sep 19: A second-year student of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay died by suicide after he was found using a mobile phone during an examination, triggering protests by students on the institute’s Powai campus. The incident took place on Friday evening and marks the third reported suicide at the IIT Powai campus in the past six months.

The deceased student was identified as Sahil Wakode, who was pursuing his second year in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering. According to the institute, Wakode had uploaded an examination question paper to ChatGPT in an attempt to obtain answers while the test was underway.

IIT Bombay said no disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against him following the incident. The matter was discussed with the student by the examination instructor and the Head of the Department. They counselled him and assured him that the incident would not have an adverse impact on his academic career, the institute said.

After the discussion, Wakode returned to his hostel room. He was subsequently found dead in the room later that evening.

In a statement, IIT Bombay expressed grief over the student’s death and said it was providing support to those affected by the incident.

“The Institute is extending support to the student’s friends, classmates, faculty members, and others affected by this tragic incident,” it said, adding that the circumstances surrounding the death were being examined by the appropriate authorities.

Following the incident, a group of students gathered on the campus and launched a protest, alleging that the administration had not disclosed all details surrounding the circumstances of the student’s death.

Some protesters claimed that Wakode had been threatened with a one-year suspension over the examination incident. They alleged that such a suspension could have required him to leave the hostel and stay outside the campus.

Students further claimed that disciplinary action of this nature could potentially have delayed completion of his engineering course beyond the standard four-year duration.

Protesting students alleged that the fear and pressure associated with possible disciplinary consequences may have played a role in the student’s death. However, these allegations have not been independently verified.

The protesters called for greater transparency and accountability from the institute’s administration.

“The reason for our protest is that a suicide took place in our college today. That is why we have gathered to protest and demand accountability, transparency, and answers from our administration,” a student said.

Another student claimed that several such incidents had occurred on campus this year and questioned whether sufficient steps were being taken to understand their causes.

Police personnel were deployed in large numbers on the campus following the protest. Discussions were also held between representatives of the students and the institute administration.

Senior police officer Dattatray Nalawade said an investigation into the student’s death was underway.

He said students had assembled to raise their concerns following the incident, while the IIT administration held talks with them in an effort to resolve the situation.