Sadar Bazaar traders have opposed the proposed Rahul Gandhi rally in Delhi on November 1, saying a large political gathering during the festival shopping season could disrupt traffic, restrict customer access and hurt business at one of the capital’s busiest commercial centres.
Members of the Sadar Bazaar Bari Market Traders Association raised the issue while carrying posters that appealed to Rahul Gandhi not to damage their shops in the name of the “Mohabbat Ki Dukaan” message. The protest was led by association president Paramjit Singh Pamma, with several other traders and market representatives present.
The traders said the period around Diwali and other festivals is among the most important for Delhi’s markets. Large numbers of customers visit Sadar Bazaar during this period, making road access, movement through the market and traffic management especially important for shopkeepers and buyers.
According to the traders, a major rally could lead to traffic diversions, congestion and difficulty reaching the market. They said such disruption could discourage customers from visiting and affect sales during a season on which many businesses depend. The concerns focus not only on the proposed event itself but also on how a large gathering would be managed around a dense, high-footfall trading district.
Pamma said traders were not opposed to anyone’s right to organise a public programme or express political views. However, he argued that the rights of traders, customers and other residents to conduct business and move through the area should also be considered. He appealed to Rahul Gandhi to take account of the festival period and consider postponing the November 1 rally.
The traders’ position highlights a recurring administrative challenge for central Delhi’s commercial areas: political gatherings and other large public events can affect access to markets that depend on predictable movement of people, goods and vehicles. In Sadar Bazaar, where trading activity intensifies during the festive season, even temporary restrictions or diversions can have consequences for shopkeepers and customers.
The association said its objective was to keep commercial activity running smoothly and prevent inconvenience to the public, rather than oppose the organisation of any particular programme. Traders also appealed for arrangements that would ensure market access and limit the impact on business if the rally goes ahead.
The report does not include a response from Rahul Gandhi, the Congress party or Delhi authorities on whether the proposed rally will be postponed, where it will be held, or what traffic and crowd-management arrangements are being planned. The next step is therefore a decision on the programme and any administrative plan for managing movement around Sadar Bazaar on November 1.
