New Delhi, Oct 29 (IANS) Delhi traders have requested Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee to press upon the Congress to defer the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan in the national capital till November 10 to prevent loss of business during the Diwali season, a representative of the Federation of Sadar Bazar Traders’ Association said.
One of the letters written to Akhilesh Yadav by a traders’ association said that the wholesalers lost business worth Rs 3,000 crore due to the protests and traffic disruption in September and October and do not want a similar washout in the current Diwali business season.
“A big rally at the peak of the Diwali shopping season may inflict a loss of more than Rs 10,000 crore on Delhi traders,” the Federation of Sadar Bazar Traders’ Association said, adding that from Dhanteras to Diwali wholesale markets in the city normally conduct business worth Rs 25,000 crore.
The Kirana Committee Delhi, in identical letters addressed to Akhilesh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee, said the proposed rally on November 1 may directly impact trade activities in at least 20 wholesale markets located within a five-km radius of Ramlila Maidan — the venue of the INDIA bloc’s proposed rally.
The rally has been called to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and protest against alleged electoral irregularities and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
“Our humble request is to postpone this protest for a few days, until after Diwali. Political events can be rescheduled, but it’s impossible to compensate for lost sales during the most important trading season of the year,” the Committee said in its letter.
It said the livelihoods of millions of small businesses and workers should not be sacrificed for political reasons.
“We are confident that the parties in the INDIA alliance will understand the gravity of this situation and convey these concerns to the Congress leadership,” the letter written by Ganga Bishan Gupta, President of Kirana Committee Delhi, based in Khari Baoli near Chandni Chowk, said.
“We once again urge you to persuade the Congress to hold the November 1 rally after November 10 so that the traders and workers of Delhi can complete their festive season business activities without any disruption,” the letter added.
The Committee said, “We are confident that you will understand the gravity of this situation and effectively convey the concerns of Delhi traders to the Congress leadership so that their livelihoods are protected during this crucial festive period.”
“We hope that the concerns of Delhi’s business community will be heard and the livelihoods of millions will be prioritised over political agendas,” the letter said.
–IANS
rch/khz