Delhi traders attribute Diwali losses to INDIA bloc rally

Delhi traders say a rally by the INDIA bloc at Ramlila Maidan disrupted business during the peak Diwali trading season, with Chamber of Trade and Industry chairman Brijesh Goyal estimating losses of ₹10,000 crore to ₹11,000 crore. The rally was held on November 1 to protest alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision exercise. Goyal said about 2.5 lakh shops out of roughly three lakh in 20 to 25 markets near the venue remained closed. He attributed the closures largely to concerns about the expected influx of people and vehicles, and said the estimate was based on information from traders’ WhatsApp groups. The figures have not been independently verified. He also estimated that three lakh to four lakh people who usually travel to Delhi for business did not arrive, and that about 5,000 goods vehicles could not operate normally. According to Goyal, the disruption affected the movement of customers, suppliers and dealers, as well as the transport, loading and unloading of goods between industrial areas, transport hubs and markets in Old Delhi and Central Delhi. Goyal said the affected markets collectively generate about ₹10,000 crore to ₹12,000...