Cloth merchants warn of order backlog amid Delhi strikes

The Delhi protest corridor is creating a cascade effect that reaches the wholesale cloth market of Bangalore. Prakash Pirgale, who heads the Bangalore Wholesale Cloth Merchants Association, explained that their supply chain hinges on a steady flow of fabric to Delhi. With the capital’s streets blocked, Delhi traders have told Bangalore partners to hold off on further shipments, causing a backlog of orders slated for Dasara and Diwali.

In Bangalore, the situation is compounded by frequent demonstrations at Freedom Park, a site earmarked for protests but increasingly crowded with multiple factions. The resulting gridlock hampers daily commutes and stalls court proceedings. The merchants’ group has appealed to the nation’s chief justice for immediate legal measures to protect self‑employed vendors from the economic fallout of recurring road blockades.