The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), Delhi's apex body representing traders and entrepreneurs, on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, wrote an open letter to Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, requesting a 20-minute meeting to discuss the potential business impact of the Congress-led INDIA bloc's November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. The letter, signed by CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal, proposes that 20 representatives from 20 major wholesale markets near Ramlila Maidan attend the discussion.

The Proposal on the Table

CTI has put forward a straightforward challenge: if Gandhi can convince the assembled traders that the mega rally — expected to draw one million people — would boost footfall and expand their customer base, the organisation will immediately withdraw its opposition and welcome the event. Conversely, if the traders succeed in demonstrating that the rally would disrupt business in the 20 surrounding markets, they are asking Gandhi to postpone it until after Diwali.

“We want dialogue, not a fight,” Goyal said in the letter, invoking Gandhi’s own stated commitment to listening to small traders and marginalised voices. “Rahul Gandhi himself says that he listens to everyone and hears the voices of small traders. So, we, the traders from 20 markets, are asking him for 20 minutes. This would be the beauty of democracy,” Goyal added.

Which Markets Are at Risk

According to CTI, the affected markets fall within a radius of one to five kilometres of Ramlila Maidan. The 20 markets named include Chandni Chowk, Bhagirath Palace, Khari Baoli, Sadar Bazaar, Chawri Bazaar, Kashmere Gate, Nabi Karim, Karol Bagh, Ajmeri Gate, Daryaganj, Nai Sadak, Kinari Bazaar, Dariba Kalan, Fatehpuri, Naya Bazaar, Filmistan, Paharganj, Gaffar Market, Jama Masjid-Meena Bazaar, and Lajpat Rai Market.

These hubs collectively cover wholesale trade in electronics, electrical goods, spices, dry fruits, garments, jewellery, books, stationery, machinery, auto parts, furniture, timber, mobile phones, crockery, and grocery items — making them central to Delhi’s festive-season commerce.

Why the Timing Matters

The November 1 rally date falls in the critical run-up to Diwali, one of the highest-revenue periods in India’s retail calendar. Traders argue that anticipated crowd movement, traffic restrictions, and route diversions in the surrounding areas could significantly cut into a window that many small businesses rely on to meet annual targets. This is not the first time large political gatherings at Ramlila Maidan have drawn trader concern — the venue has historically been central to major national rallies, and commercial disruption in the old city’s dense wholesale belt is a recurring seasonal flashpoint.

The letter also invoked Gandhi’s own political rhetoric, quoting: “Rahul ji, you open a shop of love in the market of hatred, we respect you, but do not close the shop of love in the market of Diwali. We are the traders who are the true face of your shop of love.”

What Happens Next

CTI said it awaits a response from Gandhi’s office and has expressed hope that the meeting will take place before November 1. No response from the Indian National Congress (INC) or Gandhi’s office had been received at the time of publication. The outcome of the request — acceptance, rejection, or silence — could shape how the trade body responds in the days leading up to the rally.