Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday said that the government is discussing the issue of petrol pumps and organisations protesting over one percent transaction fees on card payments proposed by the banks.
"We're discussing the issue. I have asked the secretary of the Department of Economic Affair to discuss the matter with banks. Petroleum Minister is also in touch," Jaitley said, when asked about the row, while presenting a report on Direct and Indirect Tax collections during the months of November and December.
Petrol pump dealers and associations have been protesting against banks' move of levying one percent transaction charge on the use of credit and debit card (MDR) on them instead of consumers. They even decided to stop accepting debit card or credit card payments at the petrol stations from January 8 midnight.
Earlier, All India Petroleum Dealers Association had concluded that it will not be feasible for the petrol pumps and organisations' owners to bear the extra cost of the transaction charge.
On January 9, however, AIPDA put off their decision till January 13 owing to the banks deferring their pronouncement.