A protest linked to the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) disrupted trading activity across Delhi on 10 October, with the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) estimating that business worth around ₹2,000 crore was affected in a single day. The disruption came as the capital entered its peak festive shopping season, when markets, hospitality businesses and transport services typically see increased demand.
CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal said the organisation had written to the CJP and other political parties, asking them to avoid holding demonstrations in Delhi until Diwali. According to CTI, the protest activity around Jantar Mantar affected access to major commercial areas and discouraged both local shoppers and visitors from travelling into the city.
Several prominent markets, including Sadar Bazaar, Chandni Chowk, Chawri Bazaar, Connaught Place, Karol Bagh and Lajpat Rai Market, were reported to be closed or operating at minimal levels. CTI said customers from outside Delhi, who usually contribute significantly to festive-season trade, stayed away because of concerns about traffic restrictions, security and disrupted public transport.
The organisation estimated that three to four lakh people normally travel to Delhi from outside the city for shopping each day during the season. It also said local residents avoided travelling to markets because of congestion and uncertainty over road access. CTI further claimed that several major Metro stations were closed, restricting movement between residential areas, commercial districts and the protest zone.
The reported impact extended beyond retail. CTI said petrol pumps, hotels, restaurants, cinemas, beauty parlours and salons experienced reduced footfall or booking cancellations on 10 October. The organisation described the disruption as affecting retail, services, hospitality, transport and tourism rather than markets alone.
CTI also linked the issue to the start of the Ramleela season in Delhi. The organisation said the city hosts around 650 Ramleela events, generating employment for large numbers of workers, and warned that road and Metro closures could reduce attendance. It asked the organisers and political parties to postpone demonstrations until after Diwali or choose another city for such activity.
The ₹2,000 crore figure is CTI’s estimate of business affected and was not presented in the report as an official government assessment. The report also did not provide details of the duration of individual closures, the specific Metro stations affected or any official response from the Delhi government, police or transport authorities. CTI’s request to avoid demonstrations until Diwali remains the immediate next step identified in the report.
