Massive Opposition Rally in Delhi: Rahul Asks Supporters to Support Local Traders

Hundreds of thousands of people are gathering today, Sunday, at New Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan for a massive rally organized by the opposition ‘INDIA’ bloc, led by the Congress party. The demonstration primarily targets the Election Commission and opposes the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of voter lists. However, local merchants have voiced deep concerns that the large-scale event, expected to draw nearly one million attendees and thousands of vehicles, could create major traffic congestion, disrupt supply chains, and severely hurt commercial footfall during the peak pre-Diwali festival shopping season.

To mitigate these economic fears, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged rally attendees to buy from local merchants actively. In a post on X late Saturday night, he stated, ‘Tomorrow, alongside joining the protest, march, and rally, please also do some shopping. This will support our local business owners. Our rally will not cause any loss to traders. The BJP is spreading rumors about this because they are scared. Let us do both; there will be protests, and there will be shopping.’ He expressed optimism that visitors arriving from across the country would help boost small businesses in Delhi.

Despite Rahul Gandhi’s call to support local markets, business associations remain apprehensive about the financial fallout. The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) formally requested the opposition alliance to postpone the demonstration until after the Diwali festival. According to CTI representatives, holding a gathering of this scale at Ramlila Maidan risks paralyzing operations across at least 20 major wholesale and retail markets in Central and Old Delhi, where daily transaction volumes are exceptionally high during this critical period.

Trade leaders also extended direct appeals to senior leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, requesting a reschedule to protect seasonal sales and cargo transport. However, the opposition bloc decided to proceed with the event as planned. With security restrictions and dense crowds impacting key central corridors, merchants fear substantial financial losses, while organizers maintain that the rally and festive shopping can comfortably coexist without damaging the capital’s local economy.