Rahul Gandhi alleges BJP forcibly closed down shops in Connaught Place amid INDIA bloc mega rally

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused the BJP-led government of forcibly shutting down shops in Delhi's Connaught Place, a day after urging participants of the INDIA bloc's 'Dilli Chalo' rally to support local traders by shopping from their establishments.

Gandhi levelled the allegation in a video message shared on his official X account while participating in the rally against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities.

"We told everyone that when you come here for the march and the mega rally, make purchases and shop locally. However, when we arrived here at Connaught Place, we found out that the BJP had forcibly got all the shops shut down," he said.

"So, you can see who is causing losses to the traders and how those losses are being caused," he added.

The development follows the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) writing its fourth letter to Gandhi on Sunday, expressing concerns over the potential impact of the rally on Delhi's trading community.

The traders' body warned that the INDIA bloc's mega rally at Ramlila Maidan could trigger an unprecedented crisis for businesses in the national capital. It estimated that nearly 2.5 lakh shops within a five-kilometre radius of the venue could remain shut, potentially bringing around 80 per cent of business activity to a standstill.

The CTI also cautioned that the rally could disrupt transportation and the movement of goods within a 10-kilometre radius, affecting markets across Central Delhi and Old Delhi during the crucial pre-Diwali shopping season.

While welcoming Gandhi's video appeal urging rally participants to visit local markets and shop to support Delhi's traders, the CTI said the situation on the ground was markedly different, with widespread panic and uncertainty among shopkeepers and customers.

CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal said that despite Gandhi's appeal to support local businesses, the prevailing atmosphere of uncertainty had led to fears that nearly 2.5 lakh of the approximately three lakh shops in markets within a five-kilometre radius of Ramlila Maidan would remain closed.

Earlier on Sunday, the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition had appealed to people to participate in the INDIA bloc's 'Chalo Dilli' march, which was organised to protest alleged electoral irregularities and demand the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
 

With IANS inputs...