Goa, Nov. 1 -- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of forcibly shutting shops in Delhi's Connaught Place, alleging that the move had caused financial losses to local traders ahead of the INDIA bloc's mega rally at Ramlila Maidan.

Gandhi made the allegations while travelling in an open canter towards the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction. He claimed that the opposition alliance had specifically appealed to people attending the rally to shop at local establishments and support traders during the festive season.

However, upon reaching Connaught Place, Gandhi alleged that they discovered that shops in the area had been forcibly closed.

"The country is watching how the BJP is causing loss to the...