Praveen Khandelwal, a BJP MP and Secretary of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), struck back at Rahul Gandhi hours before the opposition's mega anti-SIR march at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. Gandhi had urged participants to visit local shops to offset business losses, but Khandelwal dismissed the idea as a 'mockery' of the trading community. He argued that livelihoods are not a 'political laboratory' for testing economic theories.
"Delhi's traders need customers, not political crowds," Khandelwal stated in a written message. He pointed out that small businesses rely on the free movement of goods, smooth transportation, and uninterrupted access to markets during peak festive periods like Diwali and Chhath. Symbolic purchases by a section of rally-goers cannot replace the millions of customers who typically flood the capital's markets. Traffic congestion and restricted access directly hit shopkeepers, street vendors, and transport operators.
The CAIT leader emphasized that while he respects the democratic right to peaceful protest, the location matters. He proposed identifying suitable venues on the outskirts of Delhi for dissent. This would ensure that the capital's major commercial hubs remain accessible and that public life continues without obstruction. Khandelwal warned that turning genuine economic concerns into political rhetoric is counterproductive. He stressed that traders earn their livelihoods through hard work and enterprise, not through the 'charity or benevolence' of opposition leaders.
The standoff sets the stage for a turbulent festive season in Delhi's commercial districts. As the opposition gears up for its rally at Ramlila Maidan to press for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, traders brace for potential road blocks. The CAIT's demand for protests to move to the city's periphery remains a significant hurdle in the upcoming political calendar.