New Delhi, October 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Traders in Delhi have launched a poster campaign against the INDIA bloc’s proposed rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1, expressing concern that traffic restrictions and possible shop closures could cause heavy business losses during the ongoing festive season.
Members of the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) put up posters outside shops in Kamla Market on Saturday, appealing to Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to reconsider the rally’s venue.
The posters carried the slogan, “Rajneeti ke bazar mein mohabbat ki dukaane band mat kijiye” (Do not shut down shops of love in the marketplace of politics). The rally is being organised to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities.
Speaking to IANS, CTI President Brijesh Goyal said the traders had written to Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge three times, requesting a change of venue, but their appeals had not been accepted.
“We have launched a poster campaign near Ramlila Maidan to send a message to Rahul Gandhi. We wrote to him and Kharge ji three times, but they did not agree. Today, we have come to send a message that please do not shut down our ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukaan’ in the marketplace of politics,” Goyal said.
He said the shops in the area were around 300 years old and traders had become anxious over reports that nearly 10 lakh people and a large number of vehicles could arrive for the rally.
Shopkeepers and those involved in transporting goods were particularly concerned about whether loading and unloading operations would be possible, he added.
Goyal warned that if shops were forced to close because of barricading and restrictions, Delhi’s businesses could suffer losses exceeding Rs 10,000 crore.
He clarified that traders had no objection to the rally or any political party, but were concerned about its timing and location.
“People have the right to protest in a democracy. We only have an objection to the timing and venue of this protest,” he said.
Goyal also pointed to the approaching festival of Dhanteras, saying only four days remained and that business could be affected across markets stretching from Chandni Chowk to Karol Bagh, including the transportation of goods.
He said the traders were once again appealing to Rahul Gandhi not to disrupt their businesses, referring to his message of “mohabbat” (love).
Earlier on Saturday, the CTI wrote to several INDIA bloc leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav and Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray, urging them to reconsider holding the November 1 rally in the national capital.
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