New Delhi
oi-Prakash KL
The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has claimed that the proposed Congress rally on November 1 could bring commercial activity across Old Delhi to a standstill, resulting in losses of up to ₹10,000 crore, PTI reported.
Demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, the Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, has announced a massive rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1.
The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) projects a Congress rally on November 1st at Ramlila Maidan could cause ₹10,000 crore losses for Old Delhi markets during the Diwali shopping season. CTI urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to postpone the rally, citing potential business disruption.
The CTI said the protest could disrupt business in 21 major wholesale and retail markets in Delhi, including Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazaar, Khari Baoli and Bhagirath Palace, as it coincides with the peak Diwali shopping season.
The development comes a day after Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, rejected traders’ demand to postpone the INDIA bloc’s proposed protest rally.
The CTI has now written to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, urging him to postpone the rally until November 10, after Bhai Dooj, or shift it to an alternative venue away from commercial areas.
The grand old party is expecting around 10 lakh people to attend the protest.
According to the CTI, an event organised by the CJP on October 10 had resulted in losses of around ₹3,000 crore. The traders’ body said the event drew around 3,000 to 4,000 people and affected commercial activity in parts of central Delhi.
CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal said a copy of the letter had also been sent to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, urging him to discuss the matter with alliance partners.
Goyal said traders are particularly concerned about possible barricading and road closures on October 31 and November 1. He claimed that such restrictions could prevent customers from reaching shops during the crucial festive shopping period.
Goyal further said that an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 vehicles could be required to transport around 10 lakh people. This could include 10,000 to 12,000 buses and 5,000 to 7,000 smaller vehicles such as cars, minibuses and tempo travellers.
The traders’ body questioned where these vehicles would be parked, claiming that there was no authorised parking facility for even 200 vehicles in the immediate vicinity of Ramlila Maidan.
Reacting to earlier appeal from the CTI, the Congress leader, in a post on X, wrote, “To every trader in Delhi: We love you and hear you. The Govt shut the metro, sealed our roads and locked down our capital.
With a stolen vote nothing is safe – your shop, your savings, your children’s future. Tell Modi to sack accused no. 4, Gyanesh Kumar and the protests will stop in 30 seconds.”
With inputs from PTI
The 21 markets identified by the CTI as potentially affected include Chandni Chowk, Bhagirath Palace, Khari Baoli, Sadar Bazaar, Chawri Bazaar, Kashmere Gate, Nabi Karim, Karol Bagh, Ajmeri Gate, Daryaganj, Nai Sarak, Kinari Bazaar, Dariba Kalan, Fatehpuri, Lahori Gate, Filmistan, Paharganj, Gaffar Market, Jama Masjid, Lajpat Rai Market and Naya Bazaar.
The CTI said the narrow lanes of Old Delhi, many of which are only 10 to 12 feet wide, could face severe congestion if a large number of vehicles entered the area. It warned that even a single truck getting stuck could trigger traffic jams lasting several hours.
