Traders' Body Asks Delhi Government To Ban Protests Ahead Of Diwali

The Chamber of Trade and Industry has asked the government to ban large protests in key commercial areas of Delhi from Navratri until Deepavali to protect local businesses.

Business Impact

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal said that repeated demonstrations and metro service disruptions are harming traders and stopping customers from visiting markets. The festive period that starts with Navratri and Ramlila events on October 11 is important for business, followed by Deepavali and the wedding season. These restrictions are needed to safeguard the livelihood of about 15 lakh traders in the national capital. A CTI survey shows that business activity in Delhi markets dropped by nearly 70% over the past three days. The number of outside customers coming to the city for shopping fell from two to three lakh daily to about 40,000 to 50,000, while local footfall dropped by over 50%. Repeated metro station closures, traffic jams, and disruptions around Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street, and Connaught Place are keeping people away.

Proposed Changes

While respecting the right to peaceful protest, Mr. Goyal noted that large gatherings in central Delhi right before the festive season directly hurt businesses. CTI general secretary Gurmeet Arora said the government needs to issue new rules for protests involving more than 1,000 people at prominent spots like Jantar Mantar. The group also suggested creating a permanent protest zone outside central Delhi, pointing to Burari or the Ramlila Maidan as options.

Context

Festive seasons like Deepavali are the primary earning period for retail traders across India, making any disruption during these months a serious economic concern for local markets. Capital cities frequently balance the democratic right to demonstrate with the logistical challenges that mass gatherings create in congested commercial zones.