INDIA block rally: Delhi shopkeepers claim loss of ₹11,000 for Diwali season due to closure of 2.5 million shops, ask ‘who will replace it?’ | Today’s news
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CTI) President Brijesh Goyal questioned who would compensate the traders for the disruption caused by the INDIA Bloc rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, saying the trade sector had suffered losses of around ₹10,000–11,000 million crowns,
“Now the question arises: who will replace this loss or who will replace it – will the organizers do it?” he said.
Goyal said around 20-25 major markets near the rally venue were affected, with around 2.5 million shops remaining closed out of nearly three million shops in these malls.
According to the chairman of the ČOI, the closures were largely due to concerns about the expected arrival of a large number of people and vehicles for the rally. Citing information obtained through trade groups, WhatsApp said that around 80% of shops in the affected markets remained closed.
The disruption also reportedly affected the movement of customers, suppliers and vendors from cities around Delhi. Goyal claimed that about 3 to 4 million people who usually travel to the capital for business did not arrive on Sunday.
He further said that nearly 5,000 vehicles, including small tempos, trucks and larger goods carriers, could not operate, disrupting the movement of goods from industrial areas and transport hubs to markets in Old Delhi and Central Delhi.
“The movement of goods – loading and unloading – has been completely disrupted. During the peak season of Diwali, these individual turnover markets together generate business worth approx. ₹10,000 up to ₹12,000 million crowns. Even where shops remained open, sales were virtually non-existent; there were just no customers,” Goyal said.
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Delhi traders have flagged the disruption to the Diwali season
The traders’ body said the disruption was particularly significant as markets were in the peak festive trading season, with Dhanteras shopping scheduled four days after the rally.
Separately, traders from major commercial centers in Delhi opposed the INDIA Bloc mega rally, warning that a large political rally in the heart of the capital during the Diwali shopping season could disrupt wholesale markets and affect daily livelihoods.
The Kashmere Gate-based Automobile Parts Dealers Association (APMA) also raised concerns over the timing and venue of the rally. The association said traffic congestion and concerns among non-Delhi commuter buyers could affect wholesale trade in markets within a three kilometer radius of Old Delhi.
APMA president Vinay Narang said the association was not against democratic protests but protested against holding a rally at Ramlila Maidan during the festive shopping season.
“We are not affiliated with any political party nor are we against democratic protests. But the timing and venue are absolutely wrong,” Narang said.
He pointed out that major commercial centers including Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazaar, Daryaganj, Mori Gate and Kashmere Gate are located within three kilometers of the rally venue.
APMA members have urged the administration to intervene, warning that wholesale disruptions could put thousands of daily wage workers in financial straits.
INDIA Bloc is organizing a rally to revise the electoral roll
INDIA Bloc organized a rally at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday to protest the alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Review (SIR) exercise.
The rally was attended by several opposition leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.
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