Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Sunday, 1 November 2026, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government of “forcibly closing shops” in Connaught Place, New Delhi, even as the INDIA bloc held its ‘Dilli Chalo’ mega rally at Ramlila Maidan. The allegation came a day after Gandhi had publicly urged rally participants to shop from local traders to support Delhi’s business community.

What Rahul Gandhi Said

Gandhi made the accusation in a video message posted on his official X account while participating in the rally, which was held in protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities. “We told everyone that when you come here for the march and the mega rally, make purchases and shop locally. However, when we arrived here at Connaught Place, we found out that the BJP had forcibly got all the shops shut down,” he said. “So, you can see who is causing losses to the traders and how those losses are being caused,” Gandhi added.

Traders’ Body Warns of Unprecedented Business Disruption

The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) had on Sunday written its fourth letter to Gandhi flagging the rally’s potential economic impact on Delhi’s trading community. The CTI warned that around 2.5 lakh shops within a five-kilometre radius of Ramlila Maidan were likely to remain closed, while nearly 80 per cent of business activity could come to a standstill. The body also cautioned that transportation and movement of goods could be disrupted across a 10-kilometre radius, hitting markets in Central Delhi and Old Delhi during the critical pre-Diwali shopping season.

Ground Reality Contradicts Gandhi’s Appeal, Says CTI

CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal acknowledged Gandhi’s video appeal urging participants to visit local markets, but said the ground situation told a different story. He noted that widespread panic and uncertainty among shopkeepers and customers meant that approximately 2.5 lakh of the nearly three lakh shops in markets within a five-kilometre radius of the venue were expected to remain shut. The traders’ body said the clash between the rally’s intent and its economic fallout had placed Delhi’s business community in a difficult position.

The Larger Political Context

The ‘Chalo Dilli’ march was called by the INDIA bloc to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities. Gandhi had earlier in the day urged citizens across the country to join the protest in the national capital. This comes amid heightened political tensions between the ruling BJP and the Opposition over the functioning of election oversight institutions. The BJP has not yet issued an official response to Gandhi’s specific allegation about the shop closures.

What Happens Next

With Diwali approaching, Delhi’s traders are watching closely whether political events will continue to dent footfall in key commercial zones. The CTI has pressed for political parties to coordinate with the trading community before organising large-scale events in market-dense areas of the capital. How the BJP responds to Gandhi’s accusation — and whether any investigation into the alleged forced closures follows — will shape the next phase of this political stand-off.