Kochi: The Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi (KVVES) will organise torchlight marches across all its units in Ernakulam district on October 13, in protest against the Central Government’s decision to impose fees on UPI payments. The protest has been called by the state committee of KVVES, following a decision taken at the district working committee meeting. The organisation said the decision was taken without any consultation, despite the government having encouraged people to adopt digital payments as an essential measure to curb black money and promote national development. The protests will be held in all 14 Assembly constituencies in the district under the leadership of the respective constituency presidents. The marches will be inaugurated by M.K. Madhu in Aluva, P.K. Punnan in Angamaly, M.C. Paulson in Ernakulam, Delight Paul in Kochi, Eloor Gopinath in Kalamassery, Sony Antony in Kunnathunad, Jiji Eloor in Kothamangalam, P.A. Kabeer in Muvattupuzha, K.L. Santhosh in North Paravur, Jose Nettikadan in Perumbavoor, Paul Lewis in Piravom, P.V. Prakash in Thrippunithura, K.T. Joy in Thrikkakara and S.J. Galileo in Vypin. The torchlight marches are being organised ahead of the Raj Bhavan march scheduled for October 15. The district working committee meeting, held at the District Vyapara Bhavan in Ernakulam, was inaugurated by district president P.C. Jacob. District vice-president M.C. Paulson, general secretary C.S. Ramachandran, working president Jimmy Chakyath, district secretary K.T. Joy and working general secretary Shahjahan Abdul Khader also addressed the meeting.
