Delhi traders urge INDIA bloc leaders to postpone November 1 rally
The Chamber of Trade and Industry seeks to protect peak Diwali business worth Rs 10,000-12,000 crore.
The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has approached INDIA bloc leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, Tejashwi Yadav, and Uddhav Thackeray, to intervene regarding the November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan. The traders' body previously wrote to Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi requesting the event be rescheduled to after November 10-11.
CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal stated that the traders are not opposing the rally but are concerned about livelihoods during the peak Diwali season. He noted that Dhanteras falls on November 6 and Diwali on November 8. Goyal proposed shifting the event to Burari ground to utilise parking space for approximately 15,000 vehicles.
The association warned that the rally could impact daily business worth Rs 10,000-12,000 crore across 20 major wholesale and retail markets in central and Old Delhi. They noted that Ramlila Maidan lacks space for even 200 large buses and predicted disruptions on roads including Chandni Chowk Road and Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg.
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the rally would reflect public anger over the Election Commission of India. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of the demolition of Indian democracy.
Addressing a gathering in Chandigarh, Amit Shah attacked Rahul Gandhi's leadership and political ambitions. Shah suggested Gandhi's mock Parliament exercise was a strategy to become Prime Minister, stating that his dream would not be fulfilled.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav accused Gandhi of spreading anarchy and questioning constitutional institutions. BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi also claimed the Congress is attempting to create instability by questioning legally established procedures.