Fadnavis defends UPI charge, takes dig at Rahul Gandhi

At a business event in Nagpur on Sunday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis openly defended the proposed UPI transaction charge. He said traders and petrol pump owners should not oppose this "minor" fee, since digital payments play a key role in boosting business and reducing corruption.

Fadnavis said the government had already made clear that the charge would not apply to all UPI transactions. He accused critics of building a "fake narrative" around the issue.

He said digital transactions have helped grow the economy and cut corruption. According to him, if digital payments are to be pushed further, traders and petrol pump owners should not object to the minor charge.

Taking a dig at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's criticism of the UPI charge, Fadnavis said Gandhi should think about other career options. He said stand-up comedy and mimicry could be employment options for Gandhi. He also said Gandhi has made his own party "unemployed".

Speaking about how he deals with criticism, Fadnavis said his focus stays on results, not on what critics say. According to the Chief Minister, people ultimately remember the work done, the decisions taken and the outcomes achieved, not the criticism leaders had to face.

Describing his approach to public life, Fadnavis said his philosophy is inspired by the tortoise. He said the lesson is to keep moving toward the goal, withdraw into the shell when difficulties arise, and resume the journey once they pass. He added, however, that his own pace is faster than a tortoise's.

Fadnavis also spoke about the importance of getting honest feedback. He said he still has a group of old friends who do not treat him like the Chief Minister and tell him directly when they think he is right or wrong. According to him, genuine feedback is essential for progress, and repeatedly hiding or not fixing problems can lead to major losses later.