Government a salesman, trying to sell plastic cards: Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA: The Centre has turned into a salesman trying to sell plastic cards, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said, minutes after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley held a press conference advocating digital transactions.

"The Govt is acting like a salesman. They have started selling products. They have started selling plastic cards," Banerjee tweeted.

"This is a desperate attempt to divert from the main issue. They are making more than a blunder a day," she said in another tweet.

In bid to promote a 'less-cash economy', the government today announced discount on an array of services from buying petrol to insurance and railway tickets through the digital mode and waived service tax on card transactions of up to Rs 2,000.

A discount of 0.75 per cent will be offered on purchase of petrol and diesel through either credit/debit cards, e-wallets and mobile wallets.