New Delhi, November 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused the BJP-led government of forcibly shutting shops in Delhi’s Connaught Place, alleging that the move had caused losses to traders during the INDIA bloc’s ‘Dilli Chalo’ rally.
In a video message posted on his official X account, Gandhi made the allegation while participating in the rally at Ramlila Maidan against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities.
Gandhi’s remarks came a day after he appealed to participants in the march and rally to shop at local markets and support Delhi’s traders.
“We told everyone that when you come here for the march and the mega rally, make purchases and shop locally. However, when we arrived here at Connaught Place, we found out that the BJP had forcibly got all the shops shut down,” he said.
“So, you can see who is causing losses to the traders and how those losses are being caused,” he added.
The allegation comes amid concerns raised by the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) over the potential impact of the rally on Delhi’s business community. On Sunday, the traders’ body wrote its fourth letter to Gandhi, warning of a major disruption to commercial activity in the national capital.
The CTI claimed that around 2.5 lakh shops within a five-kilometre radius of Ramlila Maidan were likely to remain closed, potentially bringing nearly 80 per cent of business activity in the area to a standstill.
It also warned that the rally could disrupt transportation and the movement of goods across a 10-kilometre radius, affecting markets in Central Delhi and Old Delhi during the crucial pre-Diwali shopping period.
While welcoming Gandhi’s video appeal urging rally participants to visit local markets and support traders, the CTI said the ground situation was different, with panic and uncertainty prevailing among shopkeepers and customers.
CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal said that despite Gandhi’s appeal, the prevailing situation had led to expectations that around 2.5 lakh of the approximately three lakh shops in markets within a five-kilometre radius of the rally venue would remain closed.
Earlier on Sunday, Gandhi had urged people to join the INDIA bloc’s ‘Chalo Dilli’ march, calling for public participation in the protest against alleged electoral irregularities and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
FOLLOW NOW
