Urging protesters to hold demonstrations away from commercial areas, the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) treasurer Manpreet Singh on Friday said frequent protests in and around Connaught Place (CP) have significantly affected businesses, with some establishments recording zero sales on certain days. His remarks came as the Cockroach Janta Party called for a ‘Tiranga March’ at Central Park in Connaught Place on Friday evening. Concerns over the impact of protests on trade were also raised by market associations, with the Federation Lajpat Nagar Traders Association (LNTA) writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking compensation for losses allegedly suffered during the October 10 protest and restrictions on demonstrations during the festive season.
Hitting back, CJP founder Abhijit Dipke said that business do not suffer because of peaceful protests but when the government shuts down an entire city, suspends internet and restricts citizens’ movement. In a post on X, Dipke defended the party’s commitment to peace and non-violence ahead of its proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at Central Park in Connaught Place. The CJP had organised protests in Mumbai, Pune, Jaipur, Lucknow, Bengaluru and Nagpur, and all of them were peaceful, he said.
Singh said the announcement of demonstrations itself discourages people from visiting the popular shopping and dining hub, even when there are no restrictions on movement in the area. “People are afraid to come here. They do not want to get involved in a protest or find themselves in a difficult situation,” he said, adding that customers tend to avoid CP when they have other options.
He said the impact was particularly significant during the festive season, when families usually visit the area for shopping, entertainment and dining. “There is a difference between low sales and zero sales. On several days, sales have been zero,” Singh said, adding that businesses had also suffered during an earlier month-long protest at Jantar Mantar. He said footfall was relatively normal on Friday morning but expressed apprehension that customers would start leaving or avoid the area as the evening demonstration approached.
Singh urged political parties and protesters to choose alternative venues, including locations designated by the police, instead of holding demonstrations in commercial districts. “Our only request is that protests should not take place within three to four kilometres of Connaught Place. They should find a place where businesses are not affected,” he said.
Singh said restaurants were also facing losses as their business was closely linked to shopping and other recreational activities in the area.
People visiting Connaught Place often combine shopping with meals, snacks or coffee at restaurants, while restaurant-goers also explore shops during their visits, he said. “When shoppers are not coming, they are not coming to restaurants either. It is all interconnected,” he said.
In its letter, the LNTA association’s general secretary said the protest call had affected customer footfall for four to five days before and after the event, causing substantial losses to traders. The association said October, November and December were crucial months for businesses, which depend on festive sales to meet their annual expenses.
It sought an assessment of the losses suffered by traders and compensation, with the amount recovered from the principal organisers and those who called for the protest.
The Automotive Parts Merchants Association also approached the prime minister, flagging traffic congestion and disruption caused by repeated demonstrations. It said customers, goods vehicles and traders were unable to reach markets on time, affecting business, while traffic jams were also inconveniencing office-goers, schoolchildren and emergency services.
The Sadar Bazar Bari Market Traders Association president Paramjeet Singh Pamma said rising prices and traffic disruptions were adding to traders’ concerns ahead of Diwali and other festivals. He said traders invest in additional stock in anticipation of higher festive demand but face financial pressure when sales are affected. Expenses such as shop rent, electricity bills, employee salaries and transportation continue even when customer footfall declines, he said. Singh said restaurants in Connaught Place were also bearing the impact as dining, shopping and recreational activities were interconnected. A decline in shoppers also affected restaurants, he said, adding that businesses in and around the area employed a large number of people and needed regular sales to meet operational expenses and pay salaries.