Rahul Gandhi Accuses BJP of Forcibly Shutting Shops in Delhi’s Connaught Place Ahead of INDIA Bloc Rally

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of forcibly shutting down shops in Delhi’s Connaught Place ahead of the INDIA bloc’s protest rally at Ramlila Maidan.

In a video shared on social media platform X on November 1, Gandhi was seen travelling in a jeep towards the protest venue. He claimed that traders in Connaught Place had been affected by the closure of shops despite his earlier appeal to rally participants to support local businesses by shopping in the area.

Gandhi said that he had encouraged people attending the march and mega rally to purchase goods from local shops. However, he alleged that upon reaching Connaught Place, he discovered that all shops had been forcibly closed.

Questioning the BJP over the situation, the Congress leader said that people should understand who was responsible for the financial losses suffered by local traders and how those losses were occurring.

Traders Raise Concerns Over Business Losses

The controversy comes amid months of protests and demonstrations in central Delhi, with Jantar Mantar serving as a designated protest location. The repeated demonstrations and restrictions in the surrounding areas reportedly affected commercial activities, prompting concerns among traders in Connaught Place.

Traders’ associations subsequently approached the Delhi High Court, seeking the implementation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to regulate demonstrations at designated protest locations while ensuring that commercial activities were not disrupted.

According to the petitioners, businesses in the area had reportedly suffered losses amounting to Rs 2,000 crore due to barricades, traffic restrictions and other arrangements associated with the protests.

Jantar Mantar Removed From List of Designated Protest Sites

Following the concerns raised by traders, Jantar Mantar was de-notified as a designated protest site. Authorities subsequently identified three alternative locations for organising future demonstrations: Ramlila Maidan, CBD Ground and Burari Ground.

The INDIA bloc’s latest protest was organised at Ramlila Maidan, approximately 2.5 kilometres from Connaught Place.

Rahul Gandhi’s allegations have brought the issue of business disruptions during political demonstrations back into focus, raising questions about balancing the right to peaceful protest with the commercial interests of local traders.

While Gandhi blamed the BJP for the alleged closure of shops, the wider dispute highlights the challenges faced by businesses operating in areas frequently affected by demonstrations, security arrangements and traffic restrictions.