Delhi Traders Ask Rahul Gandhi to Postpone Nov 1 INDIA Bloc Rally
The Chamber of Trade and Industry warns that traffic restrictions could disrupt Diwali shopping and cause business losses of up to ₹10,000 crore.
- Delhi traders have renewed their appeal to Rahul Gandhi to postpone the November 1 rally.
- The INDIA bloc protest at Ramlila Maidan is expected to draw around 10 lakh people.
- CTI estimates potential business losses of up to ₹10,000 crore if markets are disrupted.
- Traders have proposed Burari Grounds or Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium as alternative venues.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 27th Oct: Delhi’s traders have renewed their appeal to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to postpone the INDIA bloc’s proposed protest rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 until after Diwali, citing concerns over traffic restrictions and losses during the peak festive shopping season.
Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) chairman Brijesh Goyal has written a detailed letter to Gandhi, urging him to reconsider the date of the rally, which is expected to draw around 10 lakh people. A copy of the letter has also been sent to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, requesting him to discuss the matter with alliance partners.
The renewed appeal comes after Gandhi rejected the traders’ earlier request. In a post on X on Monday, he said the protest could be stopped in “30 seconds” if Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Addressing Delhi’s traders, Gandhi alleged that government restrictions had affected businesses and public movement. He linked the protest to allegations of electoral irregularities and said the safety of shops, savings and families was at stake.
Following Gandhi’s statement, traders in around 20 major markets near Ramlila Maidan expressed concern about the possible impact of the rally on business during the festive season.
Traders Fear Traffic Disruptions and Heavy Losses
The CTI has raised questions about possible barricading and road closures from October 31, asking whether shops would be able to operate normally on October 31 and November 1 and whether customers would be able to reach the markets.
The traders’ body estimates that 15,000 to 20,000 buses could arrive in Delhi carrying protesters, in addition to private vehicles belonging to political leaders. It warned that the expected influx could cause severe congestion around Ramlila Maidan.
The venue is surrounded by several major wholesale and retail markets, and routes leading to the ground pass through commercial areas. Markets that traders fear could be affected include Chandni Chowk, Bhagirath Palace, Khari Baoli, Sadar Bazar, Chawri Bazar, Kashmere Gate, Nabi Karim and Karol Bagh.
According to the CTI, a protest involving around 3,000 to 4,000 people at Jantar Mantar on October 10 resulted in restrictions across parts of Central Delhi and, the organisation claims, caused traders losses of ₹3,000 crore.
The traders’ body estimates that a rally involving 10 lakh people could bring business in Old Delhi to a standstill and lead to losses of up to ₹10,000 crore. These figures are estimates cited by the CTI.
CTI Suggests Alternative Venues
The traders’ body has said it is concerned about the impact of the rally on businesses that depend heavily on the Diwali shopping rush. It has urged the Congress leadership and INDIA bloc parties to consider the economic consequences of holding a large protest near the capital’s busiest commercial areas.
If postponement is not possible, the CTI has proposed shifting the rally from Ramlila Maidan to an alternative venue, such as Burari Grounds or Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where it believes disruption to surrounding markets could be reduced.
The dispute highlights the competing concerns surrounding the planned demonstration: the opposition’s decision to proceed with its protest and traders’ demands to protect business activity during one of the year’s busiest shopping periods.
