Trader organisations took different positions on the proposed October 2 'No UPI Day' protest after a September 30 meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Reports by Loksatta and Goodreturns said participating distributor and mobile-retailer bodies withdrew their call following assurances that concerns over merchant charges would be considered.
The Free Press Journal reported a different position from the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association. Its president, Viren Shah, said the organisation would continue the protest and did not accept that another association could withdraw the call on behalf of all traders. He said participating shops planned to refuse UPI payments that day.
The disagreement concerns proposed Merchant Discount Rate charges on eligible higher-value merchant payments. The delegation sought changes and a delay in implementation, according to the reports. The reviewed statements did not announce that the fee framework had been cancelled or amended by a new government order.
The two positions should not be presented as a nationwide shutdown of the UPI payment system. The protest concerns participating merchants' acceptance of payments, and the statements do not establish how many shops would take part. Likewise, some associations withdrawing their call does not mean every group has abandoned the protest.