The Congress on Tuesday accused the Narendra Modi government of indulging in “organised fleecing” and “legalised pillage” of ordinary people in the name of Digital India by levying various kinds of charges and taxes on bank transactions.
AICC Communications Department in-charge Randeep Surjewala claimed that the Centre is imposing these charges in order to recover the cost of printing of new currency notes. “After four months of the demonetisation disaster, the people still do not know how much cash has been deposited in the banks. We were told that the cost of printing the new currency notes would be around Rs. 12,000-15,000 crore,” he said.
Surjewala said five different kinds of charges or taxes have been levied, which include merchant discount rate when shopping using cards, over-the-counter transaction charges, charges on ATM transactions after a fixed number in a month, charges for not maintaining a minimum balance and charges on online transaction. “These charges amount to burning holes in the pockets of hardworking, honest citizens. Why should people pay to withdraw and deposit their own hard earned money?” Surjewala asked.
He said in the name of digital transactions, last year, the Modi government earned Rs. 6,750 crore as taxes or charges from people. The amount is expected to climb to Rs. 26,000 crore this year, he added.
“The mask of 'Digital India' is peeling off from this government’s face. Modi government has indulged in nothing but plain extortion in the name of Digital India,” Surjewala said.
