Delhi traders urge Rahul Gandhi to postpone November 1 rally amid Diwali rush

Delhi’s traders have asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to postpone his November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan, warning that traffic restrictions during the festive shopping season could disrupt business across the national capital.

The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), in a letter to Gandhi, has requested that the rally be held after November 10, citing the importance of the Diwali period for traders. CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal said the event could affect business activity for three to four days, putting trade worth up to ₹10,000 crore at risk.

The request comes as businesses prepare for the peak festive shopping period, when markets across Delhi see increased commercial activity.

CTI has said traders have already suffered estimated losses of around ₹3,000 crore in October because of rallies, road closures and traffic disruptions in parts of Delhi, including Connaught Place, India Gate and central Delhi.

According to the trade body, restrictions on movement affected the arrival of goods in wholesale markets and made it harder for customers to reach retail shops.

The organisation has warned that further disruption during the festive period could put additional pressure on businesses that depend on customers travelling to Delhi’s markets to make purchases.

The CTI letter points to the concentration of major wholesale and retail markets around Ramlila Maidan. The trade body estimates that around 20 prominent markets lie within a five-kilometre radius of the venue.

It has also raised concerns about access to the Old Delhi and New Delhi railway stations, arguing that road closures and traffic restrictions could inconvenience traders and shoppers travelling to the capital from other parts of the country.

CTI said it respects democratic values and the right to peaceful protest but appealed to political parties to consider the impact of large rallies on businesses during the festive season.

The organisation has asked Gandhi to consider holding the November 1 rally after November 10, when the key festive shopping period cited in its letter would have passed.