Delhi traders urge protest ban through Diwali to protect festive season sales

The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has sought a temporary ban on large-scale protests across Delhi's commercial and central business districts from Navratri through Diwali, warning that recurring demonstrations are significantly damaging retail activity during the year's most critical trading season.

In a formal letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal requested restrictions on major gatherings at key protest sites including Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street, and Lutyens' Delhi. The organisation cited disruptions to metro services and reduced customer mobility as major contributors to declining sales across the capital's retail sector.

According to a CTI survey, business activity in Delhi's markets has contracted by approximately 70 per cent over the preceding three-day period. The chamber emphasised that the festive calendar—beginning with Navratri and Ramlila events scheduled for October 11—represents a make-or-break window for the estimated 15 lakh traders operating across the national capital, with Diwali and the subsequent wedding season generating substantial revenue.

The organisation has also proposed that the government establish a permanent, designated protest zone outside the city limits to accommodate demonstrations while safeguarding commercial activity. This measure, the CTI argued, would balance citizens' right to protest with the economic imperatives of Delhi's retail community during peak trading periods.