Delhi’s trading community has expressed intense panic as the Opposition’s ‘Chalo Dilli’ protest rally takes place at Ramlila Maidan.
In its fourth letter to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) warned that the massive demonstration could force nearly 2.5 lakh of the 3 lakh shops within a 5-km radius to stay shut, threatening an estimated 80% of regional commerce.
Although Rahul Gandhi urged rally participants to support local businesses by shopping in the capital’s historic markets, CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal highlighted that ground realities contradict these expectations.
Major commercial hubs—including Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Connaught Place, and Khari Baoli—face potential paralysis during the critical Diwali, Chhath, and Bhai Dooj shopping window, putting daily festive trade worth Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 crore at risk.
The traders’ body raised serious concerns over severe traffic congestion, logistical gridlock, and the suspension of transport operations within a 10-km radius. With an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 vehicles bringing protesters into Central Delhi, the influx threatens to choke movement for thousands of supply trucks and discourage suburban shoppers.
Rebuffing claims of being “BJP agents,” the CTI maintained that its sole objective remains protecting the livelihoods of Delhi’s small businesses during their most profitable sales period.
