NEW DELHI: As thousands of people gathered at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on Sunday for the INDIA bloc’s ‘Chalo Dilli’ rally, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged participants to support local traders by shopping from their stores during the festive season. His appeal came after traders’ associations opposed the November 1 rally, warning that the gathering could disrupt business in the capital’s key commercial markets.In a video message posted on X late on Saturday, Gandhi appealed to people travelling to Delhi from different parts of the country to support small businesses by purchasing goods after attending the rally. He said the gathering would not hurt traders and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of spreading rumours about its economic impact.“Tomorrow, lakhs of people are coming to Delhi for the Ramlila March. It is the festive season. The time of Diwali, Chhath, and Bhai Dooj has arrived. I want those lakhs of people coming to Delhi from outside to support the traders here,” Gandhi said.“Protest, march, hold rallies, and along with that, do a little shopping too - it will benefit the…
‘Don’t just protest, shop’: Rahul urges INDIA bloc rally to support Delhi traders
In short
The INDIA bloc pressed ahead with its large-scale "Chalo Dilli" demonstration at Ramlila Maidan targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Organizers faced prior appeals to delay the event from commercial groups such as the Chamber of Trade and Industry, which warned that 10 lakh visitors and 20,000 vehicles could cause crippling central Delhi gridlock. Addressing these anxieties, Rahul Gandhi accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of spreading rumors and encouraged traveling attendees to boost the local market by shopping.
Key points
- Opposition demonstrators used the massive central Delhi gathering to protest against Chie…: Opposition demonstrators used the massive central Delhi gathering to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- Organizers rejected appeals from local trade associations that sought to postpone the pol…: Organizers rejected appeals from local trade associations that sought to postpone the political rally until after the festive period.
- Congress leadership pushed back against warnings of economic disruption by urging attende…: Congress leadership pushed back against warnings of economic disruption by urging attendees to actively patronize small neighborhood shops.