Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s appeal to protesters to do a little shopping after the Ramlila Maidan rally on November 1 appears to have fallen flat, with a traders’ body claiming that the INDIA bloc protest caused business losses worth Rs 11,000 crore.
The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) said in a statement on Monday that retail and wholesale traders suffered losses amounting to Rs 8,800 crore as business activity came to a halt within a five-km radius of Ramlila Maidan.
It said around 2.5 lakh shops remained closed in major market areas, including Kashmiri Gate, Mori Gate, Chandni Chowk, Chawri Bazar, Khari Baoli, Naya Bazar, Sadar Bazar, Ajmeri Gate, Daryaganj, Paharganj, Kamala Market and Jama Masjid.
Shop owners also downed shutters in several other areas, including Bhagirath Palace, Lajpat Rai Market, Kinari Bazar, Dariba Kalan, Ballimaran, Fatehpuri, Tilak Bazar, Connaught Place, Palika Bazar, Gaffar Market and Karol Bagh.
According to the CTI statement, the transport and logistics sector suffered losses of Rs 1,500 crore as the movement of goods came to a halt within a 10-km radius of the venue.
Speaking to news agency ANI, CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal said the impact was particularly concerning as traders were operating during the peak festive season.
“The question now arises, who will compensate for this loss, or who will make up for it? Will the organisers do so?" he said.
The traders' body estimated losses of Rs 500 crore in the tourism and hospitality sector, with bookings cancelled at more than 2,000 hotels, restaurants, guest houses and dhabas across Central Delhi.
Losses suffered by those employed in the informal sector, including daily-wage workers, were pegged at Rs 200 crore.
"Approximately 2 million people — including workers, loaders, auto-rickshaw and e-rickshaw drivers, street vendors, porters and labourers — lost a full day's wages. These losses amounted to almost Rs 200 crore," it said.
The CTI had earlier sent multiple letters to the Congress leadership, expressing concerns over the potential impact of the rally on business activity, transportation and the movement of goods during the festive season.
