Delhi Traders Ask Rahul Gandhi to Move Protest Rally Over Festival Loss Fears

Delhi traders want the opposition to push back a major political protest so it does not ruin festival shopping. The Chamber of Trade and Industry wrote to Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi to ask for a delay of the INDIA bloc rally planned for November 1 at Ramlila Maidan.

Potential Losses

CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal warned that the protest could cause a business loss of ₹10,000 crore during the peak festive season. He noted that Delhi normally sees business worth ₹25,000 crore during the Dhanteras and Diwali period. Traders already lost up to ₹3,000 crore in October because of earlier rallies, marches, and road closures in areas like Connaught Place, India Gate, and Central Delhi.

Market Concerns

The letter points out that big wholesale and retail markets sit within a five-kilometre radius of Ramlila Maidan. These include Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Kashmiri Gate, Jama Masjid, Jhandewalan, and Karol Bagh. Traffic diversions and metro station closures could stop goods from arriving and block customers from reaching shops. The protest targets Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the special intensive revision of electoral rolls.

Context

Festive periods form a major part of the yearly income for local shopkeepers and retail workers across India. Political rallies in capital cities often cause heavy traffic jams and security lockdowns that disrupt daily business and travel.