Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched a sharp verbal assault against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, suggesting that his conduct on public stages makes him better suited for a career in stand-up comedy. Speaking in Nagpur, Fadnavis remarked that such a move might at least offer Gandhi regular employment, arguing that the principal opposition party has been rendered completely ineffective and idle under his leadership. The criticism followed an event titled 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' organized in Indore, where Gandhi was accused of mocking and impersonating Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Fuel Retailers Protest and the Digital Payment Surcharge
Beyond his political remarks, the Chief Minister addressed the emerging dispute regarding transaction levies on digital payments. Fuel outlet operators in Mumbai had warned that they would decline UPI payments exceeding 2,000 rupees starting October 15 unless authorities withdrew the revised Merchant Discount Rate (MDR). Fadnavis firmly dismissed the traders' agitation, asserting that resisting the fee is unjustifiable given how significantly digital transactions have expanded their daily retail turnover.
Emphasizing the positive shifts brought by financial technology, Fadnavis observed that computerized billing has made fuel retail operations remarkably transparent while offering unmatched convenience to regular consumers. The fee introduced to support the network infrastructure remains minimal. Consequently, he noted, station owners and merchants should acknowledge the immense commercial benefits of cashless commerce rather than attempting to derail the payment ecosystem.
Parliamentary Panel Recommendations and Broader Context
Clarifying the administrative origins of the decision, the Chief Minister pointed out that the parliamentary committee recommending the introduction of MDR featured former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram alongside three other senior leaders from the Congress party. In light of this, Fadnavis argued that generating panic around the policy reflects deliberate misdirection by critics. He underscored that the levy is not being imposed indiscriminately across the board, but is confined exclusively to specific, designated transaction tiers.
Concluding his remarks, Fadnavis maintained that modern electronic settlement frameworks have played a pivotal role in curbing graft and formalizing commercial activity across the country. He urged business operators to cooperate with the transparent financial architecture rather than opposing modest levies necessary to sustain the digital network.
