Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused the BJP of forcibly shutting shops in Connaught Place during the INDIA bloc's rally at Ramlila Maidan, alleging that the ruling party was responsible for causing losses to traders despite his appeal to supporters to shop in the national capital.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha made the allegation in a video recorded from an open-top vehicle while travelling towards the rally venue. His remarks came a day after he urged participants to combine their political protest with shopping to support local businesses during the festive season.
"We told everyone that when you come here for the march and the mega rally, buy things, do some shopping. But, while coming to Connaught Place, we found out that the BJP has forcibly shut down every single shop," Gandhi said.
"So, you should know who is causing the loss to the traders, and how it's happening!" he added.
𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗱 𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆
Several shops in parts of Connaught Place remained closed for a few hours on Sunday morning as supporters gathered for the INDIA bloc's march to Ramlila Maidan.
While some establishments remained open, customer footfall was limited. Parking areas in the vicinity were occupied by vehicles carrying participants to the rally.
Gandhi alleged that the closures had been forced by the BJP. However, his allegation could not be independently verified, and the circumstances behind individual shop closures were not immediately established.
The INDIA bloc's march began near the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction and proceeded towards Ramlila Maidan, where Opposition leaders addressed a gathering against alleged electoral irregularities.
𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
The controversy followed repeated appeals by the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), which had urged Opposition leaders to postpone the November 1 rally until after the Diwali shopping season.
CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal said the organisation had approached Gandhi three times seeking a change in the rally date but had received no favourable response.
The traders' body had also written to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, requesting their intervention.
According to CTI, commercial activity worth Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 12,000 crore was potentially at stake across approximately 20 major wholesale and retail markets in central and Old Delhi, including Connaught Place and Chandni Chowk.
The organisation feared that the expected arrival of nearly 10 lakh participants and 15,000 to 20,000 vehicles could severely disrupt movement and business activity.
With Dhanteras falling on November 6 and Diwali on November 8, traders said November 1 was particularly important for stocking goods ahead of the festive rush.
𝗥𝗮𝗵𝘂𝗹'𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹
On Saturday night, Gandhi had released a video urging people travelling to Delhi for the rally to support local traders by making purchases after participating in the protest.
"Tomorrow, along with protesting, marching and attending the rally, do a little shopping too. It will help our local traders," he said.
Gandhi maintained that the rally would not harm businesses and accused the BJP of spreading rumours about its impact.
The traders' body, however, argued that even if participants intended to shop, traffic restrictions, security arrangements and reduced market accessibility could affect normal commercial operations.
Delhi Police had granted conditional permission for the rally and instructed organisers to ensure that vehicles were parked only at designated locations.
𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀
The INDIA bloc organised Sunday's demonstration to protest alleged electoral manipulation and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Addressing the rally, Gandhi accused the Election Commission of facilitating irregularities in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and called for action against the Chief Election Commissioner.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other Opposition leaders also criticised the BJP-led government over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The BJP rejected the Opposition's allegations and organised counter-demonstrations in several locations, accusing the Congress and its allies of undermining public confidence in democratic institutions.
The dispute over shop closures added a commercial dimension to the political confrontation, with traders caught between concerns over business disruptions and competing claims by the ruling party and the Opposition.