New Delhi/Alive News: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that votes were being stolen and said the party would not tolerate it under any circumstances. He urged students, farmers, workers, women, young people and traders to attend the INDIA bloc rally scheduled for November 1 at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi.
In a post on X, Rahul said that people who raised questions had faced police baton charges. He called on citizens to join the rally to raise their voices against alleged irregularities in the electoral process.
On Saturday, Haryana Congress in-charge Sanjay Dutt and state Congress president Rao Narendra Singh claimed that more than 10 lakh people would attend the rally. The event is expected to focus on allegations of vote theft and opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Rahul Thanks BJP and Its Allies
In his post, Rahul Gandhi also thanked the BJP and its allies for promoting the rally and helping spread its message to a wider audience.
The Congress has been raising concerns about electoral transparency and the revision of voter lists. The November 1 gathering is part of the opposition’s campaign on these issues.
Traders Seek Postponement, Cite Possible Losses
The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has appealed to Rahul Gandhi to postpone the rally, citing concerns about business activity during the Diwali festive season.
The traders’ organisation warned that the rally could disrupt commercial activity and lead to losses estimated at ₹10,000 crore.
Ramlila Maidan is surrounded by several major commercial areas, including Chandni Chowk and Connaught Place. According to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), festive sales in major markets within a five-kilometre radius of the venue reportedly reached ₹75,000 crore during the 2025 Diwali season.
Traders fear that traffic restrictions, security arrangements and the movement of large crowds could affect customer access and sales during the busy shopping period.
Opposition Protests Over SIR and Chief Election Commissioner
The INDIA bloc has also organised protests over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
According to the report, opposition leaders held several demonstrations between October 6 and 13. The protests focused on concerns about voter list revision and the functioning of the Election Commission.
A separate protest called by opposition groups, including Left parties, on October 10 reportedly did not receive permission from Delhi Police. The report also claimed that barricades were installed across the city, 45 metro stations remained closed and more than 7,000 protesters were detained.
The November 1 rally is expected to bring the opposition’s campaign on electoral transparency back into focus, even as traders have raised concerns about its possible impact on business during the festive season.
