Congress challenges parliamentary panel chief's UPI MDR levy claim

Congress MP Manish Tewari, who serves on the parliamentary panel examining digital payments, rejected claims that Opposition members had implicitly backed the UPI MDR proposal by failing to lodge formal dissents. Tewari characterized the suggestion as "unfounded and unfortunate," pushing back against interpretations of procedural silence.

The dispute centres on how the committee's proceedings should be understood, with the Congress delegation asserting that the absence of a recorded dissent note should not be construed as tacit agreement to proposals under discussion. The party has sought to clarify its position on the contentious measure, which would impose merchant discount rates on digital payment transactions.

The UPI MDR proposal has emerged as a significant policy flashpoint, with various stakeholders expressing divergent views on its potential impact on digital payment adoption and fintech sectors. The parliamentary committee's deliberations on the matter have drawn scrutiny from multiple quarters as policymakers weigh implementation considerations.

The disagreement underscores broader tensions within the committee regarding procedural protocols and the interpretation of member participation, with implications for how consensus and dissent are recorded in future parliamentary committee proceedings.