Delhi traders’ Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) wrote to Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday demanding that the INDIA bloc's planned November 1 mega‑rally at Ramlila Maidan be postponed until after Diwali. The letter follows a similar appeal to Rahul Gandhi earlier in the week, adding urgency as the rally date nears.
CTI warned that the rally, expected to attract 1 million people and 15 000–20 000 vehicles, could trigger massive congestion across central Delhi and disrupt business in 20 major markets that generate between ₹10 000 and ₹12 000 crore daily. Chairman Brijesh Goyal said the markets are the heartbeat of Delhi, and a gridlock on November 1 would stall goods for the Dhanteras and Diwali shopping surge.
The trade body cited lack of parking at Ramlila Maidan, which can barely accommodate 200 large buses, and said barricades could be erected along Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and JLN Marg by evening, cutting off access for thousands of trucks and tempos that ferry goods into the markets.
The 20 markets within a 5‑km radius—including Chandni Chowk, Connaught Place and Janpath—rely on 5 000 trucks and tempos daily. A lockdown could halt goods destined for Diwali‑shoppers, jeopardising the livelihoods of thousands of vendors and consumers alike.
CTI proposes two alternatives: if the November 1 date cannot be changed, move the rally to Burari Maidan; otherwise, reschedule it beyond November 10 so the festive season’s traffic flow is restored. This plan aims to balance political protest with commercial continuity.
Congress is expected to review the appeal before the rally, with the opposition emphasizing the march’s democratic intent. The decision will be announced in the coming days, as Delhi’s traffic authorities and market bodies brace for the potential clash between protest and commerce.