Congress urges traders to join protests demanding Election Commissioner resignation

NEW DELHI — Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has called on Delhi shopkeepers and traders to join nationwide demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR voter re-verification exercise.

Gandhi stated that the ongoing agitations would stop in 30 seconds if Prime Minister Narendra Modi dismisses Kumar, whom the Congress leader referred to as “Accused No 4.” The call comes as political friction grows over electoral oversight, drawing concern from commercial bodies ahead of the peak festive shopping period.

The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) cautioned that a planned political rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 to press for Kumar’s removal could disrupt capital markets and result in business losses of up to Rs 10,000 crore before the festive season.

In a letter to Gandhi, CTI chief Brijesh Goyal expressed concern that protests and subsequent police actions within a five-kilometre radius of prominent commercial hubs such as Sadar Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Chawri Bazar, and Kashmere Gate would deter shoppers ahead of Dhanteras and Diwali. According to CTI estimates, capital markets record approximately Rs 25,000 crore in sales across various sectors around Dhanteras, which falls on November 6.

The upcoming gathering at Ramlila Maidan marks the first major political protest at the venue since Jantar Mantar was denotified as a public protest site and replaced by three alternative locations. Previous demonstrations in Connaught Place, organised by groups including the INDIA bloc, Abhijeet Dipke’s Cockroach Janta Party, and Neha Bora’s All India Students Association, resulted in significant revenue losses for local merchants. Tensions and verbal clashes were also reported between shop owners and protesters during a Tiranga march on October 16.