Political friction between the BJP and Congress escalated on Sunday over the impact of the opposition INDIA bloc's rally on Delhi’s trading community. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, alleged that the BJP forcibly shut down shops in Connaught Place to prevent rally attendees from shopping. He posted a video recorded from an open-top bus during the mega rally at Ramlila Maidan to share his observations.
Rahul Gandhi's Statements
Rahul Gandhi stated, "We had urged everyone participating in the march and mega rally to shop while in the area. However, upon reaching Connaught Place, we saw that the BJP had forcibly closed all the shops. People need to recognize who is truly responsible for causing losses to the local traders." On October 31, he had issued an appeal encouraging rally participants to make purchases in local markets to support shopkeepers ahead of Diwali.
BJP's Counter-Attack
BJP National President J.P. Nadda criticized Rahul Gandhi, emphasizing that local traders, street vendors, and small shop owners rely heavily on the peak business season during Dhanteras, Diwali, and Chhath Puja. Nadda highlighted an appeal made by the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) to INDIA alliance leaders—including Sonia Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, and Mamata Banerjee—asking them to reconsider staging massive political events in Delhi during prime festive periods.
Nadda claimed that previous opposition demonstrations had resulted in business losses of approximately ₹3,000 crore for Delhi traders and estimated that the current rally could cause losses exceeding ₹10,000 crore.
Concerns Raised by Trade Associations
CTI Warning: CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal cautioned that nearly 2.5 lakh shops located within a 10-kilometer radius of Ramlila Maidan could face direct operational disruptions.
Impact on Daily Turnover: CTI estimated potential disruptions to daily festive business transactions worth ₹10,000 crore to ₹12,000 crore across 20 major Delhi markets.
Sadar Bazar Association: The Federation of Sadar Bazar Traders Association also requested a postponement of the rally, noting that trade volume between Dhanteras and Diwali in the wholesale hub reaches nearly ₹25,000 crore.
