Delhi Traders Warn Of ₹10,000 Crore Loss Due To Congress Rally, Urge Post-Diwali Reschedule

The Chamber of Trade and Industry has written to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, requesting the rescheduling of the Congress party's planned 1 November rally at Ramlila Maidan until after Diwali festivities conclude on 10 November. Highlighting severe economic fallout, trade bodies warned of a business risk exceeding 10,000 crore rupees if traffic curbs, barricades, and metro disruptions are enforced across central and Old Delhi. The body noted that nearly 3,000 crore rupees in trade was already lost during demonstrations earlier in October. Key wholesale and retail markets located within a five-kilometre radius of the protest venue, including Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Chawri Bazar, and Karol Bagh, face major supply chain hurdles and sharp drops in footfall ahead of Dhanteras, when trade is estimated at 25,000 crore rupees. While supporting the democratic right to demonstrate, traders urged political organisations to pause protests during peak festive shopping.