Hathras SP Trade Cell Protests Proposed 0.4% UPI Transaction Charge

A protest was held in Hathras on Monday, 12 October 2026, against the proposed 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charge on transactions made through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). The protest was organised by the Samajwadi Party Trade Cell in Hathras city and was led by its district president, Vikas Gupta.

Samajwadi Party leaders and office-bearers of the Trade Cell took part in the protest march. The protesters said that imposing the proposed charge on UPI transactions would create an additional financial burden for traders. They raised their opposition to the proposed fee and called for it to be withdrawn.

The protest march passed through several major markets and routes in the city. The participants moved through Ghas Ki Mandi, Burj Wala Kuan, Gandhi Chowk, Bans Mandi, Halwai Khana, Beniganj, Mohanganj and Naj High Bazar, along with other prominent markets.

After passing through these areas, the protesters reached Ghanta Ghar. A protest was held there, followed by a public meeting in which the issue of the proposed MDR charge on UPI transactions was raised.

Addressing the meeting, Samajwadi Party leader Ramnarayan Kake said that imposing a 0.4 per cent MDR charge on UPI transactions would put an additional burden on traders. He alleged that the policies of the BJP government were against the interests of traders. Opposing the proposed charge, he demanded that it be withdrawn.

Samajwadi Party Trade Cell state vice-president and prospective candidate for the Hathras Assembly, Atit Agarwal, said that the organisation would continue to struggle to protect the interests of traders. He said that the movement against imposing an MDR charge on UPI would continue in the future and that the voice of traders would be taken to the state level.

Trade Cell district president Vikas Gupta said that they would stand with traders while following whatever instructions were issued by the state leadership. He said that issues related to the problems and interests of traders would be raised on priority. He added that further protests would also be held whenever required.

During the programme, office-bearers of the Trade Cell and Samajwadi Party leaders jointly took a pledge to protect the interests of traders.

Those present included Dr Radheshyam Rajak, Amit Kumar Singh, Jitendra Varshney, Hemant Gaur, Virendra Kushwaha, Manoj Sharma alias Monu, Anil Kumar Varshney, Narayan Hari Samadhiya, Yogesh Sharma, Ramkumar alias Gudda Pujari, Lalit Chaudhary, Hisab Shah, Madan Mohan alias Chinku Sharma, Shriram Yadav, Omprakash Varshney, Shailendra Kumar Sengar alias Titu, Shyam Sunder Sharma, Omprakash, Pintu Diwakar, Aqeel Qureshi, Armaan Qureshi, Somesh Savita, Atul Sengar, Jugnu Mahaur, Rajiv Yadav, Rajul Maheshwari, Mukesh Rawat, Manish Chaudhary, Dhani Varshney, Irshad Babu, Ishaq Shah, BenaamI Sharma, Girish Babu Nagar and Pawan Yadav, along with other workers.