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New Delhi : The Congress and various other opposition parties are set to hold a protest today at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan. The parties claim that hundreds of thousands of people from across the country are arriving to participate in this rally. With such a large number of protesters expected during the festive season, there is a prevailing concern that business activities might come to a standstill. Addressing this, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has made an appeal to his party workers and supporters: he has urged those coming to Delhi for the rally to also do some shopping, which would, in turn, benefit the traders.
In a video shared on social media, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi emphasized that the rally would not cause any harm to shopkeepers. He noted that the BJP, feeling fearful, is spreading rumors to the contrary. “I know that the rally will not harm the traders,” Rahul Gandhi stated. “The BJP is scared, which is why they are spreading these rumors.”
Earlier, he had appealed to the participants to engage in shopping while in Delhi. He said, “Hundreds of thousands of people are arriving in Delhi today for the Ramlila march. It is the festive season the time of Diwali, Chhath, and Bhai Dooj. I want those arriving from outside to support the local traders here. Go ahead with your protests, marches, and rallies, but also do some shopping it will benefit the traders.” He added that while a major march is taking place in Delhi today, it will also serve as an opportunity to benefit traders and small shopkeepers.
It is worth noting that for the next two weeks, all of India will be immersed in the festive season. Dhanteras falls on the 6th, followed by a week dedicated to Diwali and Bhai Dooj. Diwali brings a significant opportunity for the Indian market. Traders expressed concern regarding this major opposition rally, fearing that it would hinder the sale of goods they had stocked up for the festive season, potentially leading to significant losses.
The ‘Chamber of Trade and Industry’ (CTI) wrote to several leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, requesting a change in the date of the protest. They argued that since the festive season concludes after November 11, the rally could be scheduled for a later date.
CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal stated that the organization reached out to Rahul Gandhi three times, but he did not agree to change the date. According to the CTI, approximately 20 major wholesale and retail markets in Central and Old Delhi including prominent shopping hubs like Connaught Place and Chandni Chowk record a daily turnover of ₹10,000 to ₹12,000 crore, which could be adversely affected by the rally. Goyal emphasized that his organization is not opposed to the rally itself; rather, they fear that the arrival of a crowd of 1 million (10 lakh) people and 15,000 to 20,000 vehicles could bring business activities to a complete standstill.
Report : Abhijit Tushar Bhatt (Political Editor)
