The Chamber of Trade and Industry has urged Rahul Gandhi to postpone the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan, estimating that the disruption could affect trade worth around ₹10,000 crore.
BY PC Bureau
NEW DELHI/ October26: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday expressed solidarity with Delhi’s traders, accusing the government of disrupting business by suspending metro services, sealing roads and imposing restrictions across the capital.
In a direct message to the trading community, Rahul Gandhi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, whom he described as “Accused No. 4”. He also called for an end to the protests, saying the Prime Minister’s action against the election official would bring them to a close.
“To every trader in Delhi: We love you and hear you. The Govt shut the metro, sealed our roads and locked down our capital. Your shop, your savings, your children’s future—all are at risk. Tell Modi to sack accused no. 4, Gyanesh Kumar, and the protests will stop in 30 seconds,” Rahul Gandhi said.
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To every trader in Delhi: We love you and hear you.
The Govt shut the metro, sealed our roads and locked down our capital.
With a stolen vote nothing is safe – your shop, your savings, your children’s future.
Tell Modi to sack accused no. 4, Gyanesh Kumar and the protests will stop in 30 seconds.
दिल्ली के हर व्यापारी से: हम आपसे प्यार करते हैं, आपकी बात सुन रहे हैं।
मेट्रो सरकार ने बंद की, सड़कें सरकार ने सील की, राजधानी पर ताला सरकार ने लगाया।
जब वोट ही चोरी हो जाए, तो कुछ भी सुरक्षित नहीं – न आपकी दुकान, न आपकी बचत, न आपके बच्चों का भविष्य।
मोदी जी से कहिए – आरोपी नंबर 4, ज्ञानेश कुमार को हटाएं, 30 सेकंड में आंदोलन रुक जाएगा।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 26, 2026
Rahul Ganhi’s remarks came amid growing concern among traders over the economic impact of demonstrations and traffic restrictions in the capital. Representatives of the trading community had earlier appealed to the Leader of the Opposition and the Congress to scale back protests, citing substantial business losses from market disruptions.
The Chamber of Trade and Industry recently wrote to Gandhi, urging him to postpone the INDIA bloc’s planned rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1. The traders’ body warned that the demonstration could disrupt business worth around ₹10,000 crore during the peak Diwali shopping season.
In its letter, the chamber highlighted the importance of the festival period for Delhi’s economy.
“This year, Dhanteras falls on Friday, November 6, Diwali on November 8 and Bhai Dooj on November 10. People begin shopping for Dhanteras and Diwali a week in advance. In Delhi alone, Dhanteras-related business across sectors such as gold and silver, utensils, electronics, textiles, dry fruits, sweets, automobiles, vehicles, property and gift items amounts to approximately ₹25,000 crore. This trade is the backbone of Delhi’s economy,” the chamber said.
The traders’ body noted that markets typically experience a sharp rise in footfall and sales in the week leading up to the festivals. It also claimed that traders had already suffered losses of nearly ₹3,000 crore in October because of rallies, marches and road closures in Connaught Place, India Gate and central Delhi.
With the festive shopping season underway, traders have warned that further disruptions could hit sales, discourage shoppers from visiting markets and deepen losses for businesses that depend heavily on the Diwali rush.
