Traders Demand Postponement of Rahul Gandhis Rally Amid Concerns of Economic Impact

New Delhi, October 27 (Daily Kiran) : The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) in New Delhi has renewed its call to postpone the India Alliance rally scheduled for November 1. This request comes after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reaffirmed his intention to proceed with the rally at Ramleela Maidan, as stated on social media platform X.

In a letter addressed to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, the CTI urged him to discuss the matter with other coalition partners. Traders argue that holding the rally during the crucial pre-Diwali shopping season could severely impact businesses in the capital.

On Monday, Gandhi addressed Delhi’s traders on X, stating, “We hear you and care about you. The government has shut down the metro, sealed roads, and turned the capital into a lockdown-like scenario. If Modi removes accused number four, Gyanesh Kumar, the protest could end in 30 seconds.”

Despite this, the CTI maintains that Gandhi’s statement has not alleviated traders’ concerns. CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal noted that merchants from 20 major markets near Ramleela Maidan are extremely anxious, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear within the business community.

Traders have raised questions about potential barricading starting October 31, the likelihood of major roads being closed, and whether customers will face difficulties accessing markets. They expressed concern over the logistics of parking for the anticipated 1 million attendees and 15,000 to 20,000 vehicles.

According to the CTI, there is insufficient authorized parking for even 200 vehicles around Ramleela Maidan, which is surrounded by some of Delhi’s largest wholesale and retail markets. The organization claims that around 21 key markets would be directly affected by the rally.

The CTI also recalled the traffic restrictions imposed after a demonstration at Jantar Mantar on October 10, which involved only 3,000 to 4,000 participants, resulting in an estimated loss of ₹3,000 crore for traders.

If the November 1 rally attracts 1 million participants, the CTI warns that business activities in large parts of Old and Central Delhi could come to a standstill, potentially leading to losses of up to ₹10,000 crore.

To safeguard public and business interests, the CTI has suggested rescheduling the rally to after Bhai Dooj, specifically on or after November 10. Alternatively, they proposed relocating the event to larger venues like Burari Ground or Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to minimize its impact on surrounding markets.

Separately, Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary-General of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and a BJP MP, echoed that Gandhi’s social media post does not address traders’ concerns. He emphasized the need for the administration to consider why such measures as closing the metro and sealing roads were necessary, stressing that traders are primarily worried about the impact of large political events on their business during the festive season.