Rahul Gandhi Responds to Traders’ Appeal to Postpone INDIA Bloc’s ‘Vote Theft’ Protest in Delhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has responded to an appeal from Delhi’s business community to postpone the INDIA bloc’s planned ‘Vote Theft’ protest at Ramlila Maidan on November 1. Traders have expressed concern that the demonstration, scheduled during the Diwali festive season, could disrupt commercial activity in the surrounding areas. In a post on X, Rahul said he understood the concerns of Delhi’s traders but alleged that restrictions on metro services and road closures had already affected the national capital. He argued that alleged electoral irregularities posed a broader threat to citizens’ shops, savings and children’s futures, urging traders to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Rahul claimed that the protest-related concerns would be resolved if that demand were addressed.

The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has warned that the proposed demonstration could affect business worth approximately ₹10,000 crore in and around Ramlila Maidan during the festive shopping period. Citing the importance of Diwali-season sales for local traders, the organisation has written to Rahul Gandhi requesting that the protest be rescheduled to a date after November 10. The appeal reflects concerns about possible traffic restrictions, crowd management and reduced customer access to shops. The protest is being planned by the INDIA bloc over allegations of ‘vote theft’, while the traders’ request centres on minimising disruption to businesses during a crucial period for retail activity.