Delhi traders urge Sonia to postpone Ramlila Maidan rally

The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) on Thursday wrote directly to Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, demanding an immediate deferral of the INDIA bloc’s massive November 1 mega-rally at Ramlila Maidan.

Citing severe economic fallout during the peak festive shopping period, the premier traders' body warned that bringing an estimated 10 lakh (1 million) people and 15,000 to 20,000 vehicles into Central Delhi would spark a severe traffic paralysis across 20 historic markets.

"We demand to reschedule the mega-rally of 1 million (10 lakh) people, planned for November 1,



to a date after Diwali; lack of parking for 15,000–20,000 vehicles could lead to a total gridlock, akin to a lockdown," the CTI urged in its letter to Sonia Gandhi.

The planned rally comes at a critical juncture for Delhi's commercial ecosystem. With Dhanteras falling on November 6 and Diwali on November 8, traders emphasise that November 1 represents the busiest single day for festive inventory transit and shopper movement.

CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal stressed that business owners are facing widespread panic, clarifying that their plea is purely about survival rather than political opposition.