UPDATED: Oct 16, 2026 17:03 IST
Delhi traders have expressed concern over ongoing political protests in key commercial areas, including Connaught Place and Khan Market, warning of severe economic losses during the festive season. Business owners stated that footfall has declined drastically due to security restrictions and police action, leaving retail and wholesale operations severely disrupted while expenses like high rent and staff salaries persist. Traders associations have appealed to the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister to prohibit demonstrations in market zones and ensure adequate security. Meanwhile, political groups defend protests as a fundamental democratic right, arguing that official restrictions cause the disruptions.
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Delhi Police Issue Notices Over CP Stir, Barricade Inner Circle Ahead Of Protests
Delhi Police issued two notices barring Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke from heading towards Central Park in Connaught Place under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. Authorities cited that previous court undertakings bound individuals against creating unrest, noting that associates Saurabh Das and Ashutosh Ranka remain in five-day judicial custody at Tihar Jail over compliance violations. Amid calls for a national flag unfurling march, heavy security deployment and barricading cordoned off the Connaught Place Inner Circle, with police buses stationed to carry out detentions if unauthorised gatherings assemble. While metro stations and surrounding roads remain operational, demonstrators and supporters arrived independently despite the absence of core leadership on the ground. Local traders and shop owners expressed concern over potential disruptions, even as attendees asserted their gathering remained peaceful.
Delhi Police Fortify Connaught Place Amid Row Over CJP Tiranga Rally Call
High security was deployed across Connaught Place after Delhi Police denied permission for a Tiranga rally called by the Kokrajhar Janata Party towards Central Park. Authorities issued notices under the Delhi Police Act and enforced Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita to prohibit unlawful assemblies. While Central Park and the inner circle were barricaded with deployment of police and detention buses, roads and metro stations remained open. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was served notices directing him to maintain public order, with two other leaders, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurabh Das, already in judicial custody in Tihar Jail. Protesters and citizens carrying national flags began gathering in small numbers near the outer circle and metro exits, stating they had arrived independently to unfurl the tricolour peacefully despite restrictions.
Delhi Traders Write to Prime Minister Over Business Losses Due to Protests
Traders' bodies and shopkeepers have written a joint letter to the Prime Minister appealing for intervention over significant business losses caused by recent demonstrations in Delhi during the ongoing festive season. Pointing out the impact across key periods like Navratri, Durga Puja, Dussehra, and Diwali, the traders noted that announcements of protests discourage families from visiting popular commercial hubs like Connaught Place and surrounding areas for shopping, dining, and entertainment, even without movement curbs. Multiple business organisations have sought the Prime Minister's intervention to safeguard their commercial interests.
Delhi Police Denies Central Park Rally Nod Citing Traffic & Safety Risks
Delhi Police denied permission for a planned gathering at Central Park in Connaught Place, citing major traffic disruptions in the heart of the national capital. Authorities stated that the unauthorised assembly could inconvenience peak-hour commuters, spill over into high-security zones, and impede emergency vehicle movement through narrow lanes. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita remain enforced in the area, with police warning of legal action under Section 223 against violations. Officials further noted that organisers had not sought prior permission and highlighted previous protests by the group that resulted in law-and-order disruptions.