IndiaPosted at: Nov 1 2026 12:34AM


Rahul Gandhi appeals to INDIA Bloc rally participants to shop locally, says Delhi traders should not suffer

New Delhi, Oct 31 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has appealed to the lakhs of people expected to converge on the national capital for the INDIA bloc’s November 1 ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ rally at Ramlila Maidan to combine their political protest with festive shopping and extend support to Delhi’s local traders.
In a message posted on social media platform X ahead of the rally, Rahul Gandhi said that with Diwali, Chhath and Bhai Dooj coinciding with the political mobilisation, visitors arriving in Delhi from different parts of the country should take the opportunity to purchase goods from small shops and help local businesses.
“Tomorrow, along with protesting, marching and attending the rally, do a little shopping too. It will help our local traders,” he said, urging participants to ensure that the rally did not adversely affect the livelihoods of shopkeepers and small traders.
Rahul Gandhi also sought to counter the BJP’s allegations that the proposed rally and the expected gathering of a large number of people could disrupt business activity in the capital.
Accusing the ruling party of spreading rumours, he said, “I know that our rally will not hurt the traders. The BJP is spreading rumours because it is scared.”
“But let’s do both,” he added, calling on rally participants to combine their participation in the political demonstration with support for neighbourhood businesses.
“Tomorrow, there will be a march, there will be a rally, and lakhs of people will also buy things from the small shops of our local traders,” Rahul Gandhi said, concluding his message with greetings for the festive season: “Much love to all of you. Happy Diwali. Jai Hind.”
His appeal comes ahead of the INDIA bloc’s major mobilisation at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 under the slogan ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’, with the Opposition seeking to turn its allegations of electoral irregularities and large-scale deletions from electoral rolls into a wider public campaign.
The rally is part of the Opposition’s continuing confrontation with the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have accused the poll authority of facilitating the deletion of crores of voters’ names.
By urging participants to shop at small local establishments, Rahul Gandhi has also sought to address concerns over the possible impact of a large political gathering on traders and commercial activity in Delhi during the festive season. His message was that political protest and support for local livelihoods need not be mutually exclusive. UNI SKA SS
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