Protest against UPI charges in Aligarh: Shopkeepers remove QR codes, insist on cash payments
Traders in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, are expressing dissatisfaction over potential charges on digital payments. Shopkeepers in major markets have removed QR codes and decided to accept only cash from customers. Small-scale vendors, including tea and fruit sellers, have also stopped accepting digital transactions, causing inconvenience to the public.
VIMARSHNAARAD TVThe stance of traders regarding digital payment systems in Aligarh markets has hardened. Shopkeepers in various areas of the city have removed QR codes from their establishments. Traders stated that they took this step following discussions about the imposition of charges on UPI transactions. They are now urging customers to make payments only in cash.
Major markets affected by this move include Rasalganj, Jaiganj, and Mahavir Ganj. Additionally, traders in Railway Road, Ghantaghar, Ramghat Road, and Dubey Ka Padav have also stopped accepting digital payments. In these markets, shopkeepers have made it clear that carrying cash is mandatory for purchasing goods.
According to an Amar Ujala report, the impact of this change is also visible among small-scale vendors. Tea shop owners and fruit sellers have also removed QR codes and refused to accept digital payments. These vendors believe that the imposition of charges will directly affect their profit margins.
This decision by traders is causing significant inconvenience to common customers. Many people have become accustomed to digital payments and do not always carry cash. People who came to the market for shopping are now struggling to find cash.
There is intense local discussion that the potential charges on digital transactions will affect the business of small traders. Shopkeepers argue that they already operate on low margins, and it is not possible for them to bear the burden of additional fees.
Currently, a new situation regarding cash transactions has emerged in the markets of Aligarh. Shopkeepers are firm in their stance and are encouraging customers to pay in cash instead of using digital modes. No official response has been issued by the administration on this matter yet.
It will be important to see in the coming days what solution emerges from this standoff between digital payment providers and the trading community. Until then, cash remains the only medium for shopping in Aligarh's markets.