Delhi Traders Launch Poster Campaign, Urge INDIA Bloc to Cancel Ramlila Maidan Rally Ahead of Diwali

With the festival approaching, the traders’ body has appealed to the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, to consider the impact of the rally on businesses and livelihoods in the surrounding commercial areas.

In its appeal, the CTI compared Gandhi’s earlier ‘shops of love’ remark, saying traders also build their businesses on relationships of mutual trust, affection and goodwill with customers.

“You often say that you run shops of love in the market of hatred. Our shops also run on mutual trust, love, and affection with our customers. Therefore, we humbly request you not to sacrifice our shops of love and business for a rally during the peak season of India's biggest festival, Diwali,” the traders’ body said.

CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal said the campaign aims to draw attention to the potential impact of traffic restrictions and congestion around Ramlila Maidan. He said the posters would be displayed in 20 wholesale markets located within a five-kilometre radius of the rally venue.

“You talked about opening 'shops of love' during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, but in Delhi, our 300-year-old shops of love are being closed because of the rally,” Goyal said.

He pointed to the range of traditional businesses that operate in the area, including the well-known parantha shops of Chandni Chowk, spice traders in Khari Baoli, bangle and bindi sellers in Sadar Bazaar, and lehenga shops in Chandni Chowk.

“Each shop supports the families of 10 to 20 people,” he added.

The markets identified for the campaign include Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazaar, Khari Baoli, Bhagirath Palace, Naya Bazaar, Chawri Bazaar, Kashmiri Gate, Daryaganj, Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Nabi Karim, Paharganj, Ajmeri Gate, Lahori Gate, Janpath, Palika Bazaar, Ballimaran and Kinari Bazaar.

According to the CTI, the proposed gathering could lead to significant traffic congestion and restrictions in the commercial areas surrounding the venue. Goyal said the rally, scheduled just days before Dhanteras, could affect traders during one of the most important periods of the year.

He said the arrival of a large crowd, along with an estimated 20,000 vehicles, could disrupt traffic across central Delhi and affect shopping activity.

The traders’ body claimed that the festive-season business of around two million traders and the livelihoods of approximately 7.5 million people dependent on these markets could be affected if movement restrictions are imposed during the Diwali shopping period.

The CTI has urged the INDIA Bloc to reconsider the rally, maintaining that the timing and location of the event could have consequences for traders and workers dependent on the surrounding markets.