Traders urge Rahul Gandhi to postpone November 1 rally after warning of huge market disruption
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The Delhi Chamber of Trade and Industry has asked Rahul Gandhi to delay or move his November 1 rally, warning that the event could paralyze traffic, shut down markets, and inflict massive losses on Delhi’s traders during the Diwali season.
The Delhi Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has sent a letter to opposition leader Rahul Gandhi requesting that the planned rally on November 1 at Ramlila Maidan be postponed until after Diwali or moved to an alternative venue. The CTI, which represents traders and entrepreneurs in the capital, said the rally is expected to draw up to one million participants and 15,000-20,000 buses, creating severe traffic congestion and potentially shutting down major wholesale and retail markets surrounding the venue.
In the letter, CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal asked whether barricades would be erected on October 31 and whether roads would remain closed on the rally days, noting that such restrictions could cripple business in areas such as Chandni Chowk, Bhagirath Palace, Khari Baoli and Karol Bagh. The chamber cited a previous protest of 3,000-4,000 people on October 10 that led to a loss of roughly Rs 3,000 crore for traders, and warned that a rally of one million could cause losses of up to Rs 10,000 crore.
Goyal suggested relocating the event to sites such as Burari Grounds or Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where market access would be less affected. The CTI also copied the letter to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, urging discussion with allied parties.
"To every trader in Delhi: We love you and hear you. The government 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," Gandhi wrote on X.
"Tell Modi to sack accused no. 4, Gyanesh Kumar, and the protests will stop in 30 seconds," he added.
The CTI reiterated its concerns after Gandhi’s social-media post on Monday, in which he said the protest could be halted within 30 seconds if Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The chamber warned that proceeding with the rally as scheduled would disrupt the peak Diwali shopping season and cause extensive economic damage.