CTI seeks limits on large protests in central Delhi until Diwali

The Chamber of Trade and Industry has asked Narendra Modi to ban large protests in Delhi's key commercial and central areas from Navratri through Diwali.

CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal proposed restrictions at Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street and Lutyens' Delhi in a letter to the prime minister. He said demonstrations, traffic congestion and metro station closures were making it harder for shoppers to reach markets.

The organisation linked its request to the festive season. Navratri and Ramlila events begin on October 11, followed by Diwali and the wedding season. CTI said it wanted to protect the interests of around 1.5 million traders in the capital.

Its own survey estimated that business activity had dropped about 70% over three days. CTI claimed daily shopping visitors from outside Delhi had fallen from 200,000–300,000 to 40,000–50,000, while local footfall had declined by more than half. These figures are CTI estimates rather than official statistics.

General secretary Gurmeet Arora called for new rules governing demonstrations of more than 1,000 people. CTI also proposed a permanent protest site outside central Delhi, naming Burari and Ramlila Maidan as possibilities.

The appeal came ahead of the Cockroach Janata Party's planned October 10 protest demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. Goyal said he respected peaceful protest. CTI's demands do not themselves impose a ban on gatherings.