Traders across Delhi have faced monumental financial setbacks following the massive mega rally organized by the Congress party and various opposition groups at the historic Ramlila Maidan. Highlighting the gravity of this situation, Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) Chairman Brijesh Goyal made a striking claim regarding the scale of the disruption. He stated that during the Delhi rally, which took place right before Diwali in the peak festive season, nearly two and a half lakh shops across various markets in Delhi remained shut, directly resulting in a staggering business loss of 12000 crore rupees for local entrepreneurs.
Alongside the CTI, several other prominent and long-standing trade bodies of the country, including the Kirana Committee Delhi and the Nuts and Dry Fruits Council, have also estimated massive financial damages to commercial activities. The high-profile opposition rally at Ramlila Maidan, preceded by a road march led by Rahul Gandhi, created absolute logistical chaos. On one hand, Central Delhi remained severely gridlocked with massive traffic jams for hours. On the other hand, more than two dozen major commercial markets located in Central Delhi were forced to stay shuttered during Rahul Gandhi's rally.
Business Paralyzed Across 25 Major Markets In Delhi
The apprehensions and fears expressed by Delhi traders prior to the rally proved to be entirely accurate on the day of the event. Local business owners asserted that the complete absence of customers due to severe movement restrictions caused unprecedented losses. CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal elaborated that severe road blockades and dense crowds paralyzed commercial activities in 25 major markets situated adjacent to Ramlila Maidan. Key commercial hubs witnessed approximately 80 percent of their total shops remaining closed throughout the day.
The markets that faced complete disruption of business included Kashmere Gate, Chandni Chowk, Bhagirath Palace, Lajpat Market, Karol Bagh, Sadar Bazaar, Meena Bazaar, Chawri Bazaar, Paharganj, and Connaught Place, summing up to 25 affected markets. The CTI maintains that the cumulative loss incurred by businessmen due to Rahul Gandhi's rally ranges between 10000 crore rupees and 12000 crore rupees. Following the conclusion of this opposition rally in Delhi, the local business community is harboring intense anger against the Congress and other opposition parties, demanding due compensation for the massive trade losses suffered right in the middle of the lucrative festive season.
The primary reason behind the deep-seated anger of the traders is that they didn't issue just one or two, but a total of four written appeals to Rahul Gandhi, pleading with him to either postpone the rally or change the designated venue. The CTI officially dispatched its very first letter to Rahul Gandhi on October 24, 2026, earnestly requesting the postponement of the political gathering during the sensitive festive period. Subsequently, a second letter was sent on October 27, followed by a third letter on October 28.
Through these consecutive communications, the traders formally requested a brief 20-minute appointment with Rahul Gandhi to discuss whether the political rally would inflict severe damage or bring any advantage to local commerce. However, these earnest appeals from the business community yielded no positive response. Consequently, the CTI issued its fourth and final letter on November 1, which was the exact day of Rahul Gandhi's rally, strongly warning authorities about the adverse impacts and the prolonged shutdown of local markets. Despite these repeated warnings, the rally proceeded as scheduled, leaving traders grappling with heavy financial blows.