In the heart of Delhi, where the air is thick with the scent of Diwali, a unique challenge is brewing. The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), a powerful voice for traders, has sent a letter to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The letter, dated October 24, is a plea to reconsider a planned mega rally scheduled for November 1, which falls during the peak of the Diwali shopping season. The CTI Chairman, Brijesh Goyal, has made a bold proposal: a 20-minute meeting with 20 traders from 20 major wholesale markets surrounding Ramlila Maidan, the venue of the rally. The stakes are high, as the CTI estimates that the rally could draw 10 lakh people, significantly impacting 20 markets within a 1 to 5-kilometer radius. The traders are not asking for a fight, but for dialogue, as Goyal explains: 'We want dialogue, not a fight. Rahul Gandhi himself says that he listens to everyone and hears the voices of small traders. So, we, the traders from 20 markets, are asking him for 20 minutes. This would be the beauty of democracy.'
