The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha made the appeal in a video posted on X on Saturday, asking visitors arriving from across the country to combine their participation in the protest with purchases from small shops.
“Along with protesting, marching and attending the rally tomorrow, do a little shopping too,” Gandhi said. He argued that the influx of participants could provide additional customers for traders preparing for Diwali, Chhath and Bhai Dooj.
“I know that our rally will not hurt the traders. The BJP is spreading rumours because it is scared,” he said, accusing the governing party of exaggerating the commercial risks. The allegation was his own; traders’ associations have separately raised specific concerns about access to markets and potential losses.
Gandhi said lakhs of people were expected to travel to the capital and urged them to make purchases from neighbourhood businesses. His message sought to reconcile the opposition alliance’s political mobilisation with the interests of merchants dependent on festival shopping.
The intervention followed requests from business organisations to postpone or relocate the November 1 gathering. The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) warned that crowds, traffic restrictions and security arrangements could impede customers and deliveries across central Delhi during an important trading period.
CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal sought a meeting with Gandhi to explain the concerns of representatives from around 20 markets. The organisation had urged the Congress leadership to defer the rally until after Diwali rather than risk interrupting trade when retailers were preparing for heavy customer demand.
Among the commercial areas identified were Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Khari Baoli, Bhagirath Palace, Chawri Bazar, Kashmere Gate, Karol Bagh, Ajmeri Gate and Daryaganj. Traders feared that congestion around the rally venue could extend beyond its immediate surroundings and deter shoppers from visiting wholesale and retail districts.
Business representatives also questioned whether restrictions on vehicle movements would affect the transportation of merchandise. Their objections concerned not only possible closures but also uncertainty over how easily customers, employees and suppliers could reach shops during the demonstration.
The scale of the potential disruption remains contested. Estimates circulated by traders’ organisations about expected attendance, affected establishments and possible financial losses are projections, not verified measurements of business forgone. Equally, Gandhi’s expectation of increased purchases does not establish that additional spending will offset any disruption.
Delhi Police granted conditional permission for the rally, with organisers instructed to use designated parking areas. Traffic authorities warned of possible diversions between 10 am and 5 pm, requiring motorists to anticipate restrictions around central Delhi as political supporters assembled. The restrictions were particularly sensitive for businesses relying on weekend footfall, when customers often make multiple stops across adjoining markets before the major festivals.
The INDIA bloc called the demonstration to challenge alleged electoral irregularities, including concerns surrounding electoral rolls. Opposition leaders have also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Those allegations remain political claims and do not, by themselves, establish wrongdoing by election authorities.
The programme included a march towards Ramlila Maidan, with political parties, student groups and civil society representatives expected to participate. Organisers had prepared the venue for a large gathering, while the authorities faced the task of managing protest movements alongside ordinary commercial traffic.
Gandhi’s video message focused on the practical choices facing those travelling to Delhi. Rather than asking participants to avoid commercial districts, he encouraged them to spend money locally while attending the political programme. He presented shopping and protesting as compatible activities during the festive period.
For traders, however, the distinction between visitors entering the city and customers reaching individual markets remains significant. Crowds attending a political event may not necessarily follow established shopping routes, particularly when road diversions, parking limitations and security checks complicate movement.
The traders’ requests had been addressed to senior Congress figures, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, as associations sought assurances before the demonstration. Their stated priority was preserving access to busy marketplaces rather than taking a position on the opposition’s electoral demands.
Gandhi closed his message with Diwali greetings, reiterating his request that rally participants buy goods from small shops while visiting the capital.
