Traders Urged to Hold Rally After Nov 10, Appeal Ignored Before Diwali-Dhanteras Rush

The massive rally of the Opposition’s ‘INDIA’ bloc during the Diwali season has allegedly brought commercial activities in the national capital to a near standstill.

Due to traffic restrictions and security-related panic caused by the rally held at the historic Ramlila Maidan, nearly 80 percent of shops and establishments remained closed. As a result, the trading community in Delhi has claimed to have faced a business loss of Rs 10,000 to 11,000 crore.

According to Brijesh Goel, Chairman of the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), who spoke to news agency ANI, around 2.5 lakh shops in 20 to 25 major markets near Ramlila Maidan remained completely closed on Sunday. In these commercial areas, which house more than three lakh shops, business activities came to a complete halt due to vehicle restrictions and fear of crowds.

Not only retailers, but the movement of wholesalers, transporters and three to four lakh daily buyers who come to Delhi from neighbouring cities was also completely disrupted, it was alleged. Brijesh Goel noted that with around 5,000 goods vehicles stranded, loading and unloading of goods in the wholesale markets of Old Delhi and Central Delhi also stopped. He stated that even in the shops that were open, sales were zero as there were no customers.

Questioning the rally organizers directly over such a huge loss incurred just before Diwali and Dhanteras, the traders’ body has raised concerns. CTI has sent a fourth letter to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asking who will compensate for this unprecedented financial loss. The organization also questioned how people coming to the rally could shop when the entire market was closed.

It may be noted that the Opposition INDIA bloc had organized this massive protest rally at Ramlila Maidan against irregularities in the voter list and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Several top opposition leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav participated in the rally. Various traders’ associations had earlier objected to the timing of the rally. They had urged that the rally be held only after November 10, but their appeal was ignored, resulting in this huge loss for traders, the body expressed with resentment.