'Business boomed': Jairam Ramesh hits back at BJP over sale loss claims during INDIA bloc rally

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday criticised the BJP, claiming that the ruling party’s “propaganda has been punctured” following the INDIA bloc’s rally against the Chief Election Commissioner in the national capital. He also said the event had helped boost business for local traders.

In a post on X, Ramesh alleged that the BJP had spread fears of financial losses among traders and market closures to discredit the rally and discourage people from travelling to Delhi. He argued that visitors arriving in the capital from different parts of the country would naturally make purchases, benefiting local businesses.

"Every business operating in Delhi would benefit, directly or indirectly," he said.

He alleged that this "false and irrational smear campaign" was aimed at diverting attention from the issues of "vote theft" and to "save" Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

"But the exact opposite happened," he said.

"The people of Delhi and those who came from across the country responded to this smear campaign in their own way. In response to Rahul Gandhi ji's appeal, people went shopping in Delhi's markets. Shops in the wholesale markets of Old Delhi opened, and business boomed. On top of that, people bought goods in abundance from small shopkeepers and street vendors too. Newspaper reports themselves are exposing the falsehood of this fake narrative," he said, citing a media report.

Thanking traders, shopkeepers and Delhi residents, Ramesh said they had "embraced this appeal and stood with local business alongside democratic protest". 
"The BJP should understand that the voice of democracy cannot be suppressed by fear or smear campaigns," he said.

Taking aim at the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the BJP, Ramesh said the country's people had been watching their "antics" for 12 years and were no longer "falling for their tricks".

"The public will protect the right to vote, carry on with business, and demand accountability too. Vote thief, step down from power!" he said.

The Congress leader’s remarks came in contrast to claims by the Chamber of Trade & Industry (CTI). Its chairman, Brijesh Goyal, said on Sunday that disruptions caused by the INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan had resulted in estimated losses of Rs 10,000–11,000 crore for Delhi’s trading sector.

Goyal said around 20–25 major markets near the rally venue were affected, with approximately 2.5 lakh of the nearly three lakh shops in these markets remaining closed.

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had criticised the timing of the rally, accusing the Opposition of ignoring the interests of the business community ahead of the festive season.

"Traders in Delhi pleaded with them, explaining that they have only one week in the entire year when the bulk of their business takes place. 'If we stock up on sweets and they don't sell, what happens? We suffer a loss. If we stock up on firecrackers and they don't sell, what happens? We suffer a loss...'" Shah said.

"The traders held press conferences--not once, but three times--wrote letters, and implored them to hold their rally after Diwali. But no—they insisted on holding their rally on that very day—the same dark day when the anti-Sikh riots, the Sikh massacre, took place," the Home Minister remarked.

Prior to the rally, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi had accused the BJP of "forcibly shutting down" shops in Delhi's Connaught Place and inflicting financial losses on local traders ahead of the mega rally.

In a post on X, Gandhi claimed that people participating in the event were urged to support local markets, but found commercial establishments closed upon arrival. 
 

With ANI inputs...