Mayawati Criticises Centre's UPI Fee Plan as Corporate Profiteering

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati has launched a scathing critique of the central government's move to introduce fees on Unified Payments Interface transactions, characterising it as an attempt at capitalist profiteering at the expense of common people.

Addressing the controversial proposal, Mayawati contended that the introduction of charges on UPI transactions represents an additional financial imposition on the general public. She asserted that citizens are increasingly resistant to accepting such a system, viewing the proposed levy as an indirect taxation mechanism that would burden ordinary users of the digital payment platform.

The BSP chief's remarks underscore the political opposition building around the fee structure, with critics arguing that UPI's strength has been its accessibility and zero-cost nature for users. The proposed charges have emerged as a contentious issue, with multiple stakeholders questioning their impact on the digital payment ecosystem's growth and financial inclusion objectives.

The controversy reflects broader concerns about balancing revenue models for payment infrastructure with the government's stated commitment to promoting digital transactions across the nation's vast and diverse population.