Delhi’s trading community has formally appealed to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to reschedule the upcoming INDIA bloc rally, currently set for November 1 at the Ramlila Maidan. In a letter sent to the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) expressed concerns that the protest could cause significant financial losses during the most lucrative period of the year for retailers and wholesalers.
CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal stated that the rally coincides with the peak pre-Diwali shopping season. Traders anticipate that the event’s logistics, including road barricading, traffic diversions, and potential public transport restrictions, will discourage customers from visiting major commercial areas. The appeal asks for the rally to be deferred until after November 10, allowing markets to operate without interruption through the Dhanteras and Diwali festivities.
According to the CTI, the disruption poses a threat to approximately Rs 10,000 crore in business. This economic activity is concentrated in around 20 wholesale and retail markets located within a five-kilometre radius of the rally site. Notable areas expected to be impacted include Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Chawri Bazar, Bhagirath Palace, Khari Baoli, and Karol Bagh, which collectively supply goods to various parts of the country.
The letter highlights that the festive period, leading up to Dhanteras on November 6 and Diwali on November 8, is when consumer footfall traditionally reaches its zenith. Traders have noted that business worth roughly Rs 25,000 crore is typically conducted during this window, covering categories ranging from gold and silver to electronics, clothing, and home goods. Additionally, the CTI pointed to the potential difficulty for outstation buyers who rely on the Old Delhi and New Delhi railway stations, which may become inaccessible due to rally-related crowd management.
The CTI’s assessment suggests that local markets have already faced economic setbacks this month, claiming that previous marches and road closures in central Delhi resulted in losses of nearly Rs 3,000 crore. These events, the body argues, have slowed the transport of goods to wholesalers and deterred shoppers from visiting retail outlets. While the CTI acknowledged the right of political parties to engage in peaceful protest, it urged leaders to consider the timing of large-scale events to prevent further impact on commercial activities.
The planned November 1 rally is part of a broader push by the INDIA bloc to challenge the government on several fronts, including allegations of electoral irregularity. The opposition has been vocal regarding the "vote chori" (vote theft) charge and has called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. These complaints center on the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, an ongoing process the poll body states is intended to maintain accurate voter lists by removing dead, shifted, or duplicate entries.
Political activity in the capital has intensified following an October 12 'March for Democracy,' where activists and opposition leaders reached the Supreme Court to file a joint petition against the SIR process. Following a meeting at his residence on October 13, Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the cause. As the November 1 date approaches, the CTI continues to emphasize that shifting the venue or the date is essential to safeguarding the livelihoods of thousands of traders during the city's most critical festive window.
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