National/Alive News: Leaders the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Monday blamed the Centre for traffic disruptions and restrictions in Delhi amid the Opposition’s protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He urged traders to demand Kumar’s removal, claiming the agitation would end within 30 seconds if Prime Minister Narendra Modi dismissed him.
In a post on X, Gandhi addressed Delhi’s retail and wholesale traders, saying government-imposed restrictions, rather than Opposition marches, were responsible for disrupting business activities.
“The Govt shut the metro, sealed our roads and locked down our capital,” Gandhi wrote, linking the restrictions to the Opposition’s allegations of electoral irregularities. He reiterated the demand for Kumar’s removal as part of the campaign against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The remarks came after the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) appealed to Opposition leaders to postpone the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan. Traders expressed concern that security barricades, road diversions and possible metro restrictions could affect festive-season sales in major markets, including Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar and Karol Bagh.
Trade representatives warned that the disruptions could affect commercial activity during the busy shopping period ahead of Dhanteras, Diwali and Bhai Dooj.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also confirmed the rally, titled “Save Votes, Save the Country”. He urged people to participate, alleging that inflation and electoral irregularities were undermining democracy.
Opposition parties have organised multiple protests in October demanding action over SIR and Kumar’s removal. Previous demonstrations reportedly faced police restrictions, barricading and metro station closures.
The November 1 rally has highlighted the tension between the Opposition’s political campaign and traders’ demands for uninterrupted business during the festive season.
