Opposition Rally Debate: Traders Worry, Leaders Trade Barbs

The planned INDIA alliance rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 has triggered a sharp political debate, and the concerns of traders have now come into focus. Several leaders have offered their views on the rally, touching on opposition participation, the Election Commission and SIR.

AIMIM has said it is not part of the INDIA alliance and was not invited to the rally. Waris Pathan, national spokesperson of the party, said in Mumbai that AIMIM has been opposing the SIR process from the beginning. He added that the party had raised objections to the process first, and that its Bihar state president had filed a petition in the Supreme Court during the SIR exercise there. Asaduddin Owaisi, the party's national president, has also filed a petition against SIR.

BJP and JDU leaders have described the rally as the opposition's anxiety to capture power. Shyam Rajak, JDU national general secretary, said in Patna that the opposition's performances would not win over the public, calling the participating parties flop performers in a flop film.

Minister Ramkripal Yadav said the Congress rally would bring no political benefit to the party, as voters had already rejected it. He targeted Rahul Gandhi, saying he was restless and distressed in his desire to gain power.

Traders have also voiced concern. NDTA president Atul Bhargava said businesses had suffered losses over the past two months. Traders had expected sales to rise during the Diwali season and had stocked goods in advance, but sales did not grow as expected. Traders had requested that the rally be held after Diwali so that market shopping would not be affected. Experts say the rally, held during a period of high business activity, could affect markets and trade.