Delhi Traders’ Body Renews Appeal to INDIA Bloc to Postpone November 1 Rally Until After Diwali

The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) on Tuesday renewed its appeal to the Congress and other INDIA bloc parties to postpone their planned November 1 rally in Delhi until after the Diwali festivities, citing concerns over potential disruptions to businesses during the peak festive shopping season.

The fresh appeal came a day after Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi reaffirmed his call for participation in the proposed march, scheduled to take place at Ramlila Maidan.

CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal said traders operating in markets surrounding the proposed venue were concerned about the possible impact of the rally on customer movement, transport and commercial activity.

The traders’ body sent its latest letter to Gandhi, with a copy to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, urging him to discuss the matter with other INDIA bloc constituents.

CTI Flags Impact on Markets and Traffic

In its letter, the CTI said the rally would coincide with one of the busiest shopping periods of the year and alleged that traders across 20 major markets around Ramlila Maidan were already anxious about the arrangements.

The organisation raised questions about whether barricades would be installed from October 31, whether major roads across the national capital would be blocked and whether customers would be able to reach shops during the event.

It also questioned the logistical feasibility of the gathering, referring to the Congress leadership’s estimate that around 10 lakh people and 15,000–20,000 vehicles could attend.

“There is no authorised parking for even 200 vehicles in the vicinity of Ramlila Maidan. Twenty major wholesale and retail markets surrounding Ramlila Maidan will be directly affected,” the CTI said.

The traders’ body said the area around the venue includes several of Delhi’s prominent wholesale and retail markets and listed 21 markets that it believes could be affected by the rally.

Traders Cite Losses From Earlier Protest

The CTI also referred to a protest held at Jantar Mantar on October 10, claiming that an estimated 3,000–4,000 participants had led to restrictions across central Delhi and caused traders losses of around Rs 3,000 crore.

The organisation argued that a much larger gathering on November 1 could bring commercial activity in Old Delhi to a standstill.

It estimated that the proposed rally could result in business losses of Rs 10,000 crore, although this figure represents the traders’ body’s assessment.

In its appeal, the CTI urged the INDIA bloc to reschedule the event to a date after November 10, following the Bhai Dooj festival.

If the rally cannot be postponed, the organisation suggested shifting it from Ramlila Maidan to a larger venue, such as Burari Grounds or Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which it said would reduce the impact on nearby markets.

Rahul Gandhi Reaffirms Call for Participation

On Monday, Gandhi addressed Delhi’s traders in a post on X, saying the Congress understood their concerns but maintained that the protest was necessary over allegations of electoral irregularities.

He accused the government of restricting metro services and sealing roads, arguing that alleged electoral malpractice threatened the interests of traders and their families.

“Tell Modi to sack accused no. 4, Gyanesh Kumar, and the protests will stop in 30 seconds,” Gandhi wrote, referring to the Chief Election Commissioner and the Opposition’s demand for action against him.

The planned rally forms part of the INDIA bloc’s campaign over allegations concerning electoral integrity and the revision of voter lists. The Congress has maintained its position that the campaign should proceed.

CAIT Questions Gandhi’s Response

Meanwhile, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal criticised Gandhi’s response to the traders’ concerns.

Speaking to IANS, Khandelwal argued that Gandhi’s post on X would not adequately address the issues raised by the business community.

“Rahul Gandhi tweeted yesterday about Delhi's traders, apparently believing that his tweet-based politics would satisfy them. The question is, when he said in his tweet that the metro was shut down and roads were blocked, why was the administration compelled to take these steps in the first place?” Khandelwal said.

With the CTI pressing for a postponement and the Congress reiterating its intention to proceed, concerns over the rally’s timing and potential impact on Delhi’s festive-season trade remain unresolved.