With Diwali approaching, some Delhi traders have expressed concern over the proposed rally at Ramlila Maidan, with the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) on Saturday launching a massive poster campaign urging that business activities in major markets should not be disrupted during the peak festive season and urging the INDIA Bloc to cancel its ‘Chalo Delhi’ rally.

The CTI, an apex body representing traders and entrepreneurs in Delhi, appealed to Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, saying that traders’ businesses also run on mutual trust, love and affection with their customers.

“You often say that you run shops of love in the market of hatred. Our shops also run on the basis of mutual trust, love and affection with our customers. Therefore, we humbly request you not to sacrifice our shops of love and business for a rally during the peak season of India’s biggest festival, Diwali,” the CTI said.

CTI has announced that starting on Saturday, these posters will be put up in 20 major wholesale markets within a 5-km radius of Ramlila Maidan.

CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal said the poster campaign was intended to highlight the concerns of traders whose businesses could be affected by traffic restrictions and congestion around the rally venue.

“You talked about opening ‘shops of love’ during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, but in Delhi, our 300-year-old shops of love are being closed because of the rally,” Goyal said.

He cited businesses ranging from the famous parantha shops of Chandni Chowk and spice traders of Khari Baoli to bangle and bindi sellers in Sadar Bazaar, lehenga shops in Chandni Chowk and other traditional establishments.

“Each shop supports the families of 10 to 20 people,” he added.

The CTI said it would put up posters in major wholesale markets located within a five-km radius of Ramlila Maidan.

These include Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazaar, Khari Baoli, Bhagirath Palace, Naya Bazaar, Chawri Bazaar, Kashmiri Gate, Daryaganj, Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Nabi Karim, Paharganj, Ajmeri Gate, Lahori Gate, Janpath, Palika Bazaar, Ballimaran and Kinari Bazaar.

According to the traders’ body, a large gathering at Ramlila Maidan could lead to traffic congestion and restrictions in the surrounding markets.

Goyal said the proposed rally, scheduled just days before Dhanteras, could affect festive business activities.

He expressed concern that the arrival of a large number of people and around 20,000 vehicles could result in traffic jams across central Delhi and disrupt commercial activity.

The CTI claimed that the festive business of 2 million traders and the livelihoods of 7.5 million people dependent on these markets could be affected if restrictions were imposed during the peak Diwali shopping period.

Four people were killed, and two were seriously injured after a massive fire broke out at a shoe factory in Delhi’s Mangolpuri Industrial Area, officials said on Saturday.

The factory is in Phase 1 of the Mangolpuri Industrial Area. According to officials, the fire broke out at around 9:30 p.m. on Friday.

Upon receiving information, Delhi Police personnel, fire tender teams, along with rescue and relief officials, reached the spot.

Fire tender teams worked for hours to bring the fire under control. Subsequently, six people were rescued from inside the factory. Officials said that they were found unconscious.

Speaking to reporters, Phase-I DCP (Outer District) Vikram Singh said, “Police received information regarding a fire outbreak at a shoe factory. Our beat staff and team immediately reached the spot as first responders. As soon as the fire tenders arrived, the rescue operation was initiated.”

“The operation has been ongoing for a considerable duration and is still active. A total of six people were taken to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital, out of whom four were declared brought dead, while two are currently undergoing treatment,” he said.

DCP Singh said that the legal proceedings have been initiated, adding that the accused will be apprehended soon.

“The reason behind the fire is still unclear, and we are investigating what might have led to the fire. So far, we only know that the fire broke out in the basement. The reason will only be clear after an investigation,” he added.

Central Accident and Trauma Service (CATS) personnel Rakesh Bhardwaj said that they received the call at 9:50 p.m. regarding a fire incident in this area.

“All five of our ambulances stationed together responded immediately, arriving at the location within five to seven minutes. Our staff and team members transported around six patients to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital and admitted them,” he told the reporters.

The injured are still undergoing treatment.

Officials said that an investigation is underway and further details are awaited.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat’s Narmada district on the occasion of the freedom fighter and India’s first Deputy Prime Minister’s 151st birth anniversary.

The tribute at the world’s tallest statue marked the beginning of the day’s Rashtriya Ekta Diwas programme at Ekta Nagar, where the Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for 31 tourism and infrastructure projects with a combined outlay of Rs 426.71 crore.

Of these, 23 projects worth Rs 307.83 crore are to be inaugurated, while foundation stones will be laid for eight projects worth Rs 118.88 crore.

The projects are aimed at improving tourist facilities and infrastructure in the Statue of Unity area.

Among the major attractions to be inaugurated are an IRCTC hotel built at a cost of Rs 50 crore, an Ekta Cruise costing Rs 16 crore, a Rain Forest project worth Rs 14.30 crore and an Eco Trail worth Rs 3.67 crore.

The infrastructure package also includes a sewage treatment plant, a water treatment plant, travelators to facilitate visitor movement, a parade track, staff quarters, road improvements and facade lighting within the Statue of Unity campus.

The upgraded Shoolpaneshwar Narmada Ghat and the development of Ekta Prakash Parv are also part of the projects.

The foundation stones will be laid for the Gora-Bhanadra Road, a smart zero-waste integrated solid waste management project, Khalwani Eco-Tourism and an integrated Cactus and Butterfly Garden.

The works also include the development of Khalwani Bridge, widening of Vaghadia Road and construction of a disaster control room for the Sardar Sarovar Dam.

PM Modi is also scheduled to visit the Rain Forest and Vaman Vriksha Vatika during the day before attending the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations at around 5:30 p.m.

The evening programme will feature the Ekta Parade, with contingents from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), state police forces and central police organisations.

This year’s parade will highlight the role of security forces in tackling Left-Wing Extremism and the transformation of affected areas.

A theatrical presentation on ‘Naxal Mukt Bharat’, organised by the National School of Drama, will feature around 2,000 artistes from 126 districts affected by Left-Wing Extremism.

Tableaux and cultural performances will be centred on the theme ‘Vande Mataram’, while a larger cultural presentation involving around 5,000 artistes from across the country will showcase India’s diverse artistic traditions.

The Prime Minister arrived in Ekta Nagar on Friday after a visit to Banaskantha. During his stay, he inaugurated ‘Bharat Parv 2026’, a cultural festival showcasing the traditions, folk performances, regional cuisines, handicrafts and tourism offerings of states and Union Territories.

The festival will continue until November 15. He also visited ‘Ekta Prakash Parv-2026’, an illumination festival featuring displays representing the cultural heritage of North, East, West and South India.

The festival includes a 530-metre illuminated stretch along Valley of Flowers Road and a 180-metre Glow Tunnel, with more than 1.5 crore LED lights used across the displays.

The two-day visit coincides with the 151st birth anniversary of Patel, whose role in the integration of princely states after Independence is commemorated through the annual Rashtriya Ekta Diwas observance.