Traders' body CTI claims Rs 11,000 crore loss as Ramlila Maidan rally shuts Delhi markets

The INDIA bloc held a large rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on Sunday, November 1, where opposition parties showed their strength. Police had made tight security arrangements and closed all the roads around the venue. The markets were hit directly. The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) claims markets had to stay shut just before the festivals, causing heavy losses to traders.

According to CTI, the Congress-led rally cost Delhi's traders, factory owners and shopkeepers a combined Rs 11,000 crore. The organisation has asked who will now make good the loss.

CTI says it had already written four letters to Rahul Gandhi, requesting that the rally be held after Diwali as the festival was near. A letter was also sent to Sonia Gandhi, informing her that business would suffer. According to CTI, Rahul Gandhi had said, "We are with the traders," and that the rally would not affect any shopkeeper. CTI says the reality turned out to be the opposite.

CTI president Brijesh Goyal said on Monday, November 2, that the markets had taken a Rs 11,000 crore hit in a single day. He also gave a breakdown: Rs 8,800 crore in retail and wholesale trade, Rs 1,500 crore in transport and logistics, and Rs 500 crore in hotels, restaurants and tourism. The loss to daily-wage workers in the unorganised sector was put at Rs 200 crore.

According to CTI's report, more than 2.5 lakh small and large shops within a 5-km radius of Ramlila Maidan remained fully closed. Areas such as Kashmere Gate, Mori Gate, Chandni Chowk, Chawri Bazar, Khari Baoli, Naya Bazar, Sadar Bazar, Ajmeri Gate, Daryaganj, Paharganj, Kamla Market, Jama Masjid, Bhagirath Palace, Lajpat Rai Market and Kinari Bazar have about 3 lakh shops in all. Of these, 2.5 lakh were shut and 80 per cent of business came to a halt.

Dhanteras falls on November 6 and Diwali on November 8, so the season is at its peak. People were about to go out shopping, but because of the rally customers could not reach the markets. Traffic was jammed across a 10-km radius, which also stopped goods from moving in and out.

More than 2,000 hotels, restaurants and guest houses in Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Paharganj, Chandni Chowk and Daryaganj saw bookings cancelled. Tourists usually visit the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk on Sundays, but none came because of the rally. The 20 lakh workers employed in these markets were directly affected. With shops shut, loaders, auto-rickshaw drivers, hawkers, porters and coolies lost a day's wages.

Goyal said, "We are being called agents of the BJP. 100 large market associations had asked the Congress to postpone the rally. These are not agents of any party, they are the traders of Delhi. Our business is our party, not politics. We are not against any party, but do not harm us by doing this at festival time." Traders are said to be very angry over the loss.