The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has urged Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to postpone the party’s proposed November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan until after Diwali, citing concerns over disruption to business in 20 major markets in the national capital that could affect business worth ₹10,000-12,000 crore.
And now a last-ditch appeal to Sonia Gandhi. With just a day left for the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan traders have turned to the Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson, seeking her intervention to get the event postponed until after Diwali. Earlier reporting noted: The mega-rally, planned for November 1 at Ramlila Maidan with an expected turnout of 10 lakh people, is estimated to bring 15,000 to 20,000 buses carrying protesters apart from private cars of the political leaders. The large number of vehicles, according to the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), will block roads leading to nearby markets putting business worth Rs 12,000 crore at stake.
CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal said the organisation had earlier written three letters to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, requesting him to reconsider the rally’s timing, but had now approached Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi with its appeal. Now our last hope is Sonia Gandhi,” CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal said.
Earlier reporting noted: Three letters to Rahul Gandhi. Earlier reporting noted: “We appealed to Rahul Gandhi, but he refused.
In a letter to Sonia Gandhi, the traders’ body said the proposed rally, which is expected to draw 10 lakh people, could affect business worth ₹10,000-12,000 crore in wholesale and retail markets in central and old Delhi during the peak festive season. Goyal said the traders were not opposing the rally but were concerned about the timing, as Dhanteras falls on November 6 and Diwali on November 8. “November 1 is a crucial day for preparations for Diwali. If 10 lakh people and 15,000-20,000 vehicles enter central Delhi, business in 20 major markets could come to a standstill,” he said. The CTI said there was inadequate parking space at Ramlila Maidan to accommodate the estimated 15,000-20,000 vehicles expected to bring participants of the rally.
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It said the vehicles could spill over onto major roads, including JLN Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and Netaji Subhash Marg, potentially leading to severe traffic congestion in central and old Delhi. “The traders are worried about how goods for Dhanteras will reach the markets if central Delhi faces severe traffic congestion on October 31 and November 1,” he said.
