India bloc rally causes traders ₹11,000 crore loss:Organisations claim 2.5 lakh shops in 20 major Delhi markets remain close

A rally of the INDIA (I.N.D.I.A.) alliance, led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, was held at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on 1 November. Traders and various stakeholders have claimed that the rally caused losses of ₹11,000 crore. According to the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) and other traders’ organisations, around 2.5 lakh shops remained closed in 20 major markets across Delhi because of the rally, held just before Diwali, and the security and traffic restrictions imposed for it. The CTI has claimed that traders suffered business losses of up to ₹11,000 crore as a result. CTI wrote to Rahul Gandhi four times The Confederation of Trade and Industry (CTI) had written to Rahul Gandhi for the fourth time, expressing concern over the impact of the INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan on business and transport in Delhi. CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal had said that around 2.5 lakh shops could remain closed because of the rally. Transport services could also be affected within a 10-kilometre radius. This was expected to affect business worth ₹10,000 crore to ₹12,000 crore. Rahul, Priyanka and several other senior leaders attended the rally On 1 November, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee and Tejashwi Yadav, along with other leaders, reached Ramlila Maidan. The INDIA bloc’s ‘Chalo Delhi’ march began at the Minto Road junction in Connaught Place. The convoy consisted of several vehicles. Party workers walked along the road.