Rahul Gandhi has invited people across the country to participate in the Congress mega rally scheduled for Sunday, November 1, at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi. More than 10 lakh people are expected to attend the gathering.
The proposed rally has drawn objections from Delhi's business community. Traders argue that holding such a large event during the festive season could cause significant financial losses. They have repeatedly urged Rahul Gandhi either to cancel the rally or shift it to another location.
Responding to the concerns, Rahul Gandhi maintained that people across the country must come forward to protect the country's democracy.
After failing to secure a response to their concerns despite writing three letters to the Rae Bareli MP, traders have now approached his mother and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi. In their letter, they claimed that the area does not have parking facilities for 15,000 to 20,000 vehicles. They also warned that the rally could bring traffic to a standstill, creating a situation similar to a lockdown.
The traders said they had already written to Rahul Gandhi three times requesting a reconsideration of the rally arrangements and described Sonia Gandhi as their last hope.
The concerns have been raised by the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), one of Delhi's leading organisations representing traders and entrepreneurs. The organisation has written to Sonia Gandhi, chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, requesting that the rally be postponed until after Diwali, which falls on November 10-11.
CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal clarified that traders were not opposing the Congress rally but were concerned about the timing of the event.
"We are not opposing the rally. We are making a humble appeal to protect our livelihoods during the peak Diwali season. Dhanteras falls on November 6 and Diwali on November 8. November 1 is the most crucial day for preparations. If 10 lakh people and 15,000-20,000 vehicles arrive in central Delhi on November 1, daily business worth Rs 10,000-12,000 crore across 20 historic markets will come to a standstill," Goyal said.
With traders warning of a major disruption to commercial activity and seeking intervention from the Congress leadership, the proposed November 1 rally has become a point of concern for Delhi's business community during the crucial festive trading period.
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