New Delhi: The rally and public meeting held by the India alliance caused a loss of Rs. 10,000 crore to Delhi traders, said the head of the CDI organization.
The India alliance had announced that a rally and public meeting would be held at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on November 1, demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. Merchant associations had requested that the rally be postponed, saying Diwali festival business would be affected. Rejecting this, the India alliance held the rally and public meeting as planned the day before yesterday.
Regarding this, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CDI), Brijesh Goyal, said: Around 20 to 25 major markets operate around Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan. There are about 3 lakh shops in this area. With Diwali business picking up, the rally severely affected trade.
Based on data received from WhatsApp groups comprising traders from various markets under the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), about 80% of shops were closed. Even in places where shops were open, there were not even nominal sales.
Loading and unloading operations came to a complete standstill. Around 400,000 people, including customers and suppliers, usually come from cities surrounding Delhi. But due to this march, they did not come. In addition, around 5,000 vehicles were unable to transport goods to the markets of Old Delhi and Central Delhi.
As a result, traders have suffered losses of around Rs. 10,000 crore in total. Who will compensate for this business shutdown? He said this. Vinay Narang, president of the Kashmere Gate-based Auto Parts Traders Association (APMA), said, “We are not affiliated with any political party, nor are we against democratic protests.
But the timing and location are completely wrong. Ram Leela Maidan is located in the middle of Asia’s largest commercial area. Major markets such as Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Daryaganj, Mori Gate, and Kashmere Gate are within a three-kilometer radius. In such a situation, holding a protest here has severely affected business,” he said.
