Delhi Traders Express Concerns Over Upcoming Congress Rally Scheduled for November 1
Delhis Chamber of Trade and Industry urges Congress to postpone a major rally to avoid disrupting pre-Diwali business activities.
New Delhi, October 31 (Daily Kiran) : Concerns are mounting among traders in New Delhi regarding the Congress party’s proposed rally at Ramleela Maidan on November 1. The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), representing the city’s business community, has reached out to leaders of the India Block, including Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, Tejashwi Yadav, and Uddhav Thackeray, requesting that the rally be rescheduled for after Diwali.
CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal emphasized that traders are not opposed to the rally itself. However, he pointed out that November 1 coincides with Dhanteras and is a peak day for preparations leading up to Diwali. If the rally proceeds as planned, it could severely disrupt daily business activities in 20 historic markets, resulting in a loss of approximately ₹10,000 to ₹12,000 crore each day.
The CTI has also sent a letter to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, urging her to reconsider the timing of the rally. Previously, they had communicated their concerns to Rahul Gandhi as well.
According to the CTI, the area within a 5-kilometer radius of Ramleela Maidan includes 20 markets that have been operational for over 300 years, supplying goods across India. Key markets affected include Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazaar, Connaught Place, and Karol Bagh, among others.
Every day, these markets receive goods via 5,000 trucks and tempos from 56 industrial areas, including Narela and Mundka. Additionally, around 3,000 trucks transport goods to various cities in the National Capital Region and beyond.
Traders fear that if the rally occurs, traffic disruptions could begin as early as the afternoon of October 31, with vehicles starting to gather at Delhi’s borders. Transporters have already indicated they may halt operations from that date, causing immediate impacts on logistics.
The CTI has proposed that if the rally must take place, it should be moved to Burari Maidan, which can accommodate up to 15,000 vehicles, thereby minimizing disruption during the crucial pre-Diwali period.
