Rahul Gandhi accuses BJP of forcing shops to shut during INDIA bloc rally

New Delhi: The political confrontation over the INDIA bloc's rally at Ramlila Maidan intensified on Sunday, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accusing the BJP of forcibly shutting shops in Delhi's Connaught Place and causing losses to traders.

In a video posted on X while travelling to the rally, Gandhi said he had earlier urged people coming to the capital for the march to shop at local markets during the festive season. However, he claimed that shops in Connaught Place had been forcibly closed by the BJP, preventing visitors from making purchases.

"So, you should know who is causing the loss to the traders, and how it's happening," he said.

Gandhi's remarks came amid criticism from BJP leaders over the timing of the Opposition rally, which coincided with the festive shopping season ahead of Diwali, Chhath and Bhai Dooj.

Former BJP president JP Nadda accused the Congress and its allies of hurting small traders and street vendors during a crucial business period. Citing representations by the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), he said previous protests had caused traders losses of around Rs 3,000 crore and claimed the latest rally could result in losses exceeding Rs 10,000 crore.

The CTI had warned that the gathering could lead to the closure of around 2.5 lakh shops and affect business across 20 markets. Its chairman, Brijesh Goyal, estimated that nearly 80 per cent of business in these markets could be disrupted, putting daily festive-season trade worth Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 12,000 crore at risk. The Federation of Sadar Bazar Traders Association had also urged the Congress leadership to reschedule the rally, citing an estimated festive turnover of Rs 25,000 crore.

The BJP also criticised the decision to hold the rally on the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, accusing the Congress of hurting Sikh sentiments. The party announced a counter-protest in Delhi's Hari Nagar area.

Addressing the INDIA bloc rally, Gandhi broadened his attack on the government and the Election Commission, saying India should be a country where everyone has the opportunity to participate and benefit from their hard work. He said farmers should receive the rewards of their labour and students who work hard should get employment, adding that the country should not belong to just a few people.

Invoking the idea of 'Shiv ki Baraat', Gandhi said everyone should be welcome in the country. He described the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as the first step towards putting the country back on the right track.

In another sharp warning to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi said, "After Gyanesh Kumar, we're coming for you." He also termed the alleged deletion of voters' names from electoral rolls an "anti-national" act and "treason", describing it as a "rarest of rare" case.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, addressing the gathering, defended the patriotism of Muslims and said they had shed blood for the country and would continue to do so. He criticised attempts to question their national allegiance.

The INDIA bloc's 'Chalo Dilli' march and rally was organised to protest alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Opposition parties have alleged large-scale deletion of voters' names and accused the Election Commission of compromising electoral fairness. The Centre and the BJP have rejected the Opposition's allegations.