Rahul Gandhi asked supporters to shop locally during his November 1 Ramlila Maidan rally to help traders. BJP leader Sambit Patra mocked this, saying, "We all know where he will shop," while pointing to Gandhi’s trips to Vietnam and Thailand. Traders fear the rally will disrupt business during the festive season.
Sambit Patra mocked Rahul Gandhi's appeal to rally-goers to shop locally, citing his foreign trips. The exchange followed traders' concerns about the November 1 Ramlila Maidan rally's impact on festive business.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's call to rally-goers to squeeze in some shopping drew a swipe from BJP MP Sambit Patra, who brought up the Congress leader's earlier trips to Vietnam and Thailand.
"Will Rahul Gandhi shop in Chandni Chowk? Have you ever seen him do that? Look at his passport. It already has stamps from Vietnam and Thailand. He will take an evening flight to go shopping. He did not say he would shop here. We all know where he will shop," Patra said.
Ahead of the November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan, Gandhi had urged supporters to shop at local stores alongside marching and protesting. Responding to traders' concerns about losses, he said the purchases would support their businesses during the festive season and accused the BJP of spreading rumours about the rally's impact.
Gandhi's remarks came amid concerns raised by traders' associations over the timing of the rally, which is scheduled during the peak festive shopping period.
The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has written its fourth letter to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, warning that the November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan could disrupt business and transport operations across central Delhi.