The Federation of Sadar Bazar Trades Association (Regd.), the apex body representing traders in Delhi’s Sadar Bazar, has urged Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to intervene and ensure that the proposed INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 is postponed until after November 10, citing the potential impact on businesses during the ongoing festive trading season.
In a letter to Gandhi, the association said the period from Dhanteras to Diwali accounts for an estimated business turnover of around Rs 25,000 crore, providing crucial annual earnings for thousands of traders, shopkeepers and small business owners. It warned that traffic diversions, road closures and large crowds associated with the rally could affect customer footfall, the movement of goods and deliveries across major trading hubs, including Sadar Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Khari Baoli and Chawri Bazar.
The association said traders had already suffered substantial losses during September and October due to repeated protests, rallies and traffic restrictions. It highlighted the potential impact on small traders and the workers, sales staff, helpers and delivery personnel who depend on these businesses for their livelihoods.
The federation appealed to Gandhi to persuade the Congress leadership to reschedule the rally, arguing that political programmes could be postponed in the larger public interest while the festive trading season represented a critical opportunity for small businesses to secure their annual income.
The letter was signed by federation president Rakesh Kumar Yadav, general secretary Kamal Kumar and treasurer Deepak Mittal. The federation also wrote to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. The Kirana Committee Delhi separately wrote to Akhilesh Yadav and former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, demanding the postponement of the protests.
The INDIA bloc, led by the Congress, has planned the November 1 rally against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The programme is part of the opposition's campaign against alleged vote theft and electoral roll irregularities.
Meanwhile, Gandhi urged people to join the opposition's 'Chalo Dilli' march, asking them not to worry about the police or their lathis. In a video posted on X, he said the march was intended to save democracy, end what he described as vote theft and protect the Constitution.
Gandhi said the protest was not for any single political party but for the country. He also appealed to student groups, regardless of their political affiliations, to participate, asserting that the BJP would not have the courage to resort to violence or other tactics against the marchers.
Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal also urged people to join the rally, alleging that democracy was under attack and that 13 crore names had been deleted from electoral rolls. He said opposition demands for answers had been met with lathicharge and detentions, but the INDIA bloc would continue its fight.
Venugopal said the November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan would demand Gyanesh Kumar's resignation and hold the Modi government accountable.
The INDIA bloc will also hold a "public impeachment" proceeding against the CEC on Friday at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence at 10, Rajaji Marg, over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar will chair the proceeding. The subsequent 'Dilli Chalo March' against alleged vote theft will culminate in the rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1.
Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera accused the BJP of attempting to sabotage the march, referring to the alleged refusal to provide trains in Telangana and the concerns raised by Delhi traders. He said the protest would go ahead and described it as a movement for the Constitution, democracy and the voting rights of Indians.
Khera alleged that 13.30 crore Indians had been disenfranchised through the SIR exercise and claimed that more than 50 people had died by suicide, cardiac arrest and other health complications directly linked to the exercise. He urged people who believed in the right to vote to join the march, which he said would be peaceful.
(With agency inputs from ANI and PTI)
