NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of causing financial losses to local traders by allegedly forcing shops in Delhi's Connaught Place to shut on the day of the INDIA bloc's 'Chalo Delhi' march and mega rally at Ramlila Maidan.
The Leader of the Opposition claimed that the closures hurt businesses despite his appeal to rally participants to support local traders by shopping in the capital.
In a post on X on Sunday, Rahul said participants travelling to the national capital had been encouraged to shop at local markets during their visit. However, he claimed that they found shops closed upon reaching Connaught Place.
"We told everyone that when you come here for the march and the mega rally, buy things, do some shopping. But, while coming to Connaught Place here, we found out that the BJP has forcibly shut down every single shop. So, you should know who is causing the loss to the traders, and how it's happening!" Rahul said.
The remarks followed an appeal Rahul had made in a video message on X late on Saturday, urging people arriving in Delhi from different parts of the country to support small businesses during the festive season.
"Tomorrow, lakhs of people are coming to Delhi for the Ramlila March. It is the festive season. The time of Diwali, Chhath, and Bhai Dooj has arrived. I want those lakhs of people coming to Delhi from outside to support the traders here," he said.
"Protest, march, hold rallies, and along with that, do a little shopping too - it will benefit the traders," Rahul added.
The Congress leader also rejected concerns that the gathering would hurt businesses, accusing the BJP of spreading rumours about the rally's economic impact.
"I know the rally will not harm the traders. The BJP is scared, that's why it's spreading rumours," he said, reiterating his appeal for participants to purchase goods from local shops.
The appeal came amid objections from traders' associations, which had urged Rahul and Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi to postpone the November 1 demonstration until after the festive season.
The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) warned that an estimated 10 lakh participants and 15,000-20,000 vehicles could cause severe congestion across central Delhi.
"We demand to reschedule the mega-rally of 1 million (10 lakh) people, planned for November 1, to a date after Diwali; lack of parking for 15,000–20,000 vehicles could lead to a total gridlock, akin to a lockdown," the traders' body said.
The Federation of Sadar Bazar Traders Association also flagged the potential impact on festive business, estimating that the period from Dhanteras to Diwali accounts for around Rs 25,000 crore in turnover. It sought postponement of the rally until after November 10.
Meanwhile, thousands of supporters and senior opposition leaders gathered in the national capital on Sunday for the INDIA bloc's 'Chalo Delhi' protest march and mega rally at Ramlila Maidan, prompting heightened security arrangements and traffic restrictions across parts of central Delhi.
Several prominent leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, joined the procession after departing from the Constitution Club.
Carrying banners reading 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao', the opposition leaders are protesting alleged electoral roll irregularities and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The INDIA bloc has also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged large-scale voter omissions.
