The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to postpone the INDIA bloc’s Nov. 1 rally in Delhi, claiming it may cause a loss of business worth ₹10,000 crore during the festive shopping season.
Brijesh Goyal, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and CTI chairman, has asked Gandhi for permission to postpone the rally at Ramlila Maidan until November. Officials chose November 10 to avoid disrupting wholesale and retail markets just before Dhanteras and Diwali, PTI reported on Saturday.
The traders’ organisation states that at least 20 of the largest markets lie within a five-km radius. This radius concerns the venue. Traffic diversions, barricades and the possibility of public transport restrictions can influence the flow of customers and commodities.
The CTI further alleged that traders had already incurred losses of approximately ₹3,000 crore last October due to rallies, marches and roadblocks in Connaught Place, India Gate and in and around central Delhi.
The timing of the move was especially bad with Dhanteras falling on Nov. 6, Diwali on Nov. 8 and Bhai Dooj on Nov. 10, said Goyal.
The traders’ body said they appreciated the right to peaceful demonstration and march but appealed to political parties not to congregate in large numbers in front of traders or commerce during the festivities.
The INDIA bloc rally is scheduled to demonstrate against electoral roll revision anomalies and the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner of India.
