As Opposition leaders are gathering to hold a protest rally on Sunday at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the traders body has once again written to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, claiming that the rally could affect 80% of business across 20 markets.
In its fourth letter to Gandhi, the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has claimed that despite the Congress leader’s call to protesters to shop local, the rally could lead to the closure of around 2.5 lakh shops and a halt in transport operations within a 10-km radius. Opposition leaders are holding a ‘Chalo Dilli’ march against alleged electoral irregularities and to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday (November 1). CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal said the disruption could affect 80% of business across 20 markets , putting daily Diwali-season trade worth ₹ 10,000-12,000 crore at risk, and urged the Congress to ensure that the rally does not affect traders’ livelihoods. “Every day, around 5,000 trucks and tempos carrying goods arrive in these markets from 56 industrial areas, including Narela, Bawana, Okhla, Mayapuri, Mundka and Udyog Nagar. Another 3,000 trucks transport goods from these markets to the NCR and other parts of the country,” it said.
His call came after the traders body wrote to him, citing concerns over losses ahead of Diwali. It is the festive season. The time of Diwali, Chhath, and Bhai Dooj has arrived. I want those lakhs of people coming to Delhi from outside to support the traders here. Protest, march, hold rallies, and along with that, do a little shopping too – it will benefit the traders.
I know the rally will not harm the traders,” he said in a video posted on X. The traders’ body also said that it was being labelled as “BJP agents”, asserting that it neither supported nor opposed any political party but represented Delhi’s trading community.
The letter comes after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had earlier urged protestors to make festival purchases to support local traders, asking them to “protest, march and shop. “Namaskar, Tomorrow, lakhs of people are coming to Delhi for the Ramlila March.
