Delhi traders claim ₹11,000 crore loss after INDIA bloc rally, shops shut across markets

Delhi's trading sector suffered estimated losses of ₹10,000 crore to ₹11,000 crore following disruptions caused by the INDIA bloc's November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan, Chamber of Trade & Industry (CTI) chairman Brijesh Goyal has claimed. He said around 80% of shops in 20 to 25 major markets in the vicinity remained closed, while the movement of customers and goods was severely affected.

According to Goyal, nearly 2.5 lakh of the approximately three lakh shops in these markets did not open on Sunday. The closures followed concerns over the expected arrival of around 10 lakh people and thousands of vehicles for the opposition bloc's gathering against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The CTI chairman's estimate came after the traders' body sent its fourth letter to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday morning, raising concerns about the impact of the rally on businesses and transport services. The organisation had repeatedly urged the Congress leader to postpone the event until after Diwali.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Goyal said the figures were compiled from information shared by traders in different markets through WhatsApp groups associated with the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).

"Due to the rally held at Ramlila Maidan today, about 20 to 25 major markets in the vicinity were affected. These historic markets house approximately 3,00,000 shops. Based on data we received this evening from various WhatsApp groups, comprising traders from different markets under the CTA (Confederation of All India Traders), about 80% of these shops, roughly 2,50,000 out of 3,00,000, remained closed today. This was due to the panic that spread over the last few days, with reports suggesting that 1 million people and thousands of vehicles would arrive," he said.

Traders claim transport and supply chains came to a halt

Goyal said the disruption extended beyond shopkeepers, affecting customers, suppliers and dealers who usually travel to Delhi from smaller towns and neighbouring areas for business.

He claimed that around three to four lakh such people did not turn up in the capital on Sunday. In addition, approximately 5,000 vehicles transporting goods from industrial areas and transport hubs were unable to operate, disrupting supplies to markets in Old Delhi and Central Delhi.

"Since the markets in Old Delhi and Central Delhi consist primarily of small shops rather than large warehouses, they rely on daily inward shipments from these industrial and transport hubs," he said.

According to the CTI chairman, the rally-related restrictions and disruption in transport services brought the movement of goods to a complete halt. Even shops that remained open reportedly saw very few customers, resulting in negligible sales.

Goyal said the affected markets collectively generate a turnover of approximately ₹10,000 crore to ₹12,000 crore during the peak Diwali shopping period. He estimated that the trading sector suffered losses of ₹10,000 crore to ₹11,000 crore and questioned who would compensate businesses for the disruption.

He also highlighted the timing of the rally, pointing out that Dhanteras shopping was due to begin four days later. Diwali, which falls on a Sunday this year, is also a day when traders generally visit their shops for cleaning and stock-taking.

CTI had repeatedly urged Congress to postpone rally

The traders' body had raised concerns about the November 1 gathering well before the event, citing the possibility of traffic congestion, restrictions on vehicle movement and disruption to commercial activity in central and old Delhi.

The CTI had initially urged the Congress leadership to postpone the rally until after Diwali. It had also raised concerns about parking arrangements, arguing that Ramlila Maidan did not have sufficient capacity to accommodate even 200 large buses, let alone the thousands of vehicles expected to bring participants.

The organisation had warned that a gathering of around 10 lakh people, accompanied by an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 vehicles, could create lockdown-like conditions in parts of central and old Delhi.

In its earlier appeals, the CTI had suggested that the rally be shifted to a date after November 10 or moved to another venue, including Burari Ground, to minimise disruption to businesses during the festive season.

The Delhi Traffic Police had also issued an advisory ahead of the rally, announcing restrictions and diversions from 10 am to 5 pm on November 1. Several key intersections in central Delhi were identified for traffic regulation, including Netaji Subhash Marg, Rajghat, Delhi Gate, ITO, Ajmeri Gate and Turkman Gate.

INDIA bloc leaders hold march against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

The INDIA bloc's 'Chalo Dilli' march began at the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction on Sunday and culminated at Ramlila Maidan, where the opposition leaders held a mega rally demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities.

The gathering was attended by Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, among others.

The dispute over the rally's timing and its impact on businesses subsequently turned into a political confrontation between the BJP and Congress.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised Rahul Gandhi for proceeding with the rally despite repeated appeals from traders to reschedule it. Shah said the traders had held three press conferences and written letters requesting that the event be held after Diwali.

"The traders held press conferences, not once, but three times, wrote letters, and implored them to hold their rally after Diwali. But no, they insisted on holding their rally on that very day, the same dark day when the anti-Sikh riots, the Sikh massacre, took place," Shah said.

Union minister JP Nadda also accused the Congress-led INDIA bloc of ignoring the concerns of small traders and businessmen during the festive season. He alleged that the opposition had refused to defer the rally despite repeated appeals from the CTI.

"The objective of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party is to paralyse Delhi during this sacred festive season, to strike a blow at the livelihoods of our small-scale shopkeepers and traders, and to incite an atmosphere of unrest and chaos in the country," Nadda was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Rahul Gandhi, Congress reject allegations of business losses

Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, accused the BJP of forcibly shutting shops in Connaught Place, arguing that the ruling party was responsible for the losses being reported by traders.

"So, you should know who is causing the loss to the traders, and how it's happening!" he said in a post on X.

Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury dismissed the BJP's allegations that the rally would hurt local businesses, describing them as false rumours. She said opposition leaders had instead appealed to people to visit local markets and shop during the festive season.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also disputed Goyal's assessment, claiming that the rally had helped local businesses by bringing people into Delhi from different parts of the country.

Ramesh accused the BJP of spreading fear about shop closures and business losses to discredit the opposition's gathering. He argued that visitors attending the rally would also shop in the capital, benefiting businesses directly and indirectly.

He further alleged that the BJP's "false and irrational smear campaign" was intended to divert attention from the opposition's allegations of vote theft and protect CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

"But the exact opposite happened. The people of Delhi and those who came from across the country responded to this smear campaign in their own way. In response to Rahul Gandhi ji's appeal, people went shopping in Delhi's markets. Shops in the wholesale markets of Old Delhi opened, and business boomed," Ramesh said.

"The public will protect the right to vote, carry on with business, and demand accountability too," he added.

The CTI's estimated loss of ₹10,000 crore to ₹11,000 crore is based on the traders' body's assessment of closures and disrupted commercial activity. Congress leaders, however, have disputed the claim and maintained that the rally did not hurt local businesses.