Rahul Gandhi Conditions Delhi Protest Halt on Election Commissioner Removal

NEW DELHI — Congress leader Rahul Gandhi responded on Tuesday to an appeal from trade representatives to defer the INDIA bloc’s planned November 1 protest in the national capital, declaring that demonstrations would cease immediately if Prime Minister Narendra Modi removes Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The response follows an appeal by the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), which urged the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha to postpone the upcoming rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan until after November 10. The CTI cautioned that mass gatherings during the peak festive shopping window could disrupt commerce worth Rs 10,000 crore, noting that Delhi typically records around Rs 25,000 crore in business across sectors around Dhanteras.

The proposed demonstration forms part of the broader INDIA bloc campaign opposing alleged irregularities in electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision exercise. Opposition figures previously staged a ‘March for Democracy’ in Delhi and filed a joint petition against the revision on October 12, prior to a meeting hosted by Gandhi on October 13.

In a post on the social media platform X, Gandhi addressed Delhi’s commercial community directly regarding the disruptions.

“To every trader in Delhi: We love you and hear you,” Gandhi wrote, adding that government measures including metro closures, sealed roads, and capital lockdowns had impacted daily life. “Tell Modi to sack accused no. 4, Gyanesh Kumar and the protests will stop in 30 seconds.”

Trade representatives have raised concerns over mounting financial strain ahead of major festivals. According to CTI estimates, traders suffered losses of approximately Rs 3,000 crore in October alone due to ongoing rallies, marches, and accompanying road closures. Dhanteras falls on November 6, followed by Diwali on November 8 and Bhai Dooj on November 10.

Despite the appeal from the Chamber of Trade and Industry and letters from CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal, the INDIA bloc’s protest rally remains scheduled for November 1 at Ramlila Maidan.