CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal sent a formal letter to the heads of the INDIA bloc—Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, Tejashwi Yadav and Uddhav Thackeray—on Saturday, demanding a postponement of the November 1 Delhi Chalo rally. The letter cites that the march, expected to draw 10 lakh people, could halt daily trade turnover of Rs 10 000‑12 000 crore across 20 historic markets in central Delhi.
The Chamber pointed out that 15 000–20 000 vehicles would spill into the city’s main arteries, turning the bustling commercial hubs into a “lock‑down” scenario. A grid‑locked JLN Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and Chandni Chowk would force traders to shut shop, crippling the festive season’s sales.
Diwali’s economic pulse is at its peak: Dhanteras falls on November 6 and the festival on November 8, making November 1 the last day for major preparations. CTI argues that holding the rally on this day would derail the critical window when shoppers are most active.
The letter also offered two alternatives: shift the rally to Burari Ground or move the date to November 10‑11. Previously, CTI had sent three letters to Rahul Gandhi and urged Sonia Gandhi to postpone, but no response was received.
“We are not opposing the rally; we are pleading to protect livelihoods during the peak Diwali season,” Goyal said. He stressed that the trade community’s survival hinges on a decision that avoids a citywide standstill.
The INDIA Alliance leaders have not yet replied to the CTI’s request, leaving the rally’s fate uncertain. Traders across Delhi await a resolution that could keep the market corridors open during the festival rush.