Dikshit Defends Ramlila Rally, Slams Mann Over Rahul Gandhi Remarks

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit has defended the India bloc's planned rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1, rejecting calls from business groups to postpone it. The rally has become a focal point of debate after traders expressed anger over the disruption it may cause.

Business organisations have been urging the alliance to reconsider the date. Their concerns are linked to an estimate that Delhi traders have lost nearly Rs 3,000 crore in October because of rallies, protests and road jams in Connaught Place, India Gate and central Delhi.

Dikshit described the trade concerns as a political matter and said large rallies are held frequently in the capital. He asked why a single day's business disruption should be treated as a major problem, arguing that sales would recover soon afterwards.

According to Dikshit, lakhs of visitors arriving for the rally would likely spend money on snacks and refreshments during the few hours of the event. He listed samosas, kachoris, tea, water bottles, potato chips, chowmein and aloo puri, saying thousands of small traders could benefit from the crowd.

He further asked why large traders were thinking only about themselves and maintained that a single day of lower business would not have a lasting impact.

Dikshit also weighed in on the controversy over Mallikarjun Kharge's comments about Prime Minister Modi, which some India bloc leaders had objected to. He said such objections should be raised equally when BJP leaders make wrong statements against Congress leaders.

He then turned his attention to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who had criticised Rahul Gandhi's visit to the state. Dikshit said opposition leaders will continue to travel and that the impact would be seen at the elections. He recalled that Aam Aadmi Party leaders had sought Congress participation in their events after Kejriwal was jailed in the liquor scam case two to two and a half years earlier.

Issuing a warning, Dikshit urged Mann to be patient. He said Congress could counter any statement made by Rahul Gandhi, but baseless remarks were not appropriate. He added that Mann could not understand Congress's contribution to Punjab's progress because of his narrow outlook.