Market veteran Samir Arora on Thursday criticised Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath over his comments on stock market closures. Arora questioned Kamath's stance, asking who such closures matter to if they do not matter to anyone.
"So if it does not matter to anyone, who does it matters to. I hope you will say the same thing when the market is open on Sunday Feb 1st. Why do we want the market to be open just because there is a budget that day? If our exchange has international linkages is it not unfair to foreign investors to have the market open on Sunday," he noted in a post on X.
He further mentioned Jan. 1, questioning why markets remain closed on that day every year if consistency is the goal.
Arora's remarks came after Kamath had earlier expressed displeasure over stock market closures due to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections. As many as 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including Mumbai, are going to the polls on Thursday. This prompted the government to declare a public holiday in the state, leading to the closure of schools, colleges, stock exchanges, banks and other government institutions.
So if it does not matter to anyone who does it matter to.
— Samir Arora (@Iamsamirarora) January 15, 2026
I hope u will say the same thing when the market is open on Sunday Feb 1st. Why do we want market to be open just because there is budget that day? If our exchange has international linkages is it not unfair to foreign… https://t.co/nf4829g4kC
Kamath had posted on X saying, "The fact that our exchanges, which have international linkages, are shut down for a local municipal election shows poor planning and a serious lack of appreciation for second-order effects."
Citing Charlie Munger, Kamath said market holidays continue because no one influential has an incentive to oppose them. He added that such decisions highlight how far India still has to go before being taken seriously by global investors.
As the two posts gained traction, the internet appeared divided on the issue. While many sided with Kamath, some agreed with Arora's views.
"Global linkages seriously? So 1 day of the market being closed is such a problem, then let's have markets open on Eid and Christmas to compensate! Just because you're a globalist doesn't mean everyone else is..," a user commented, opposing Kamath's stance.
However, many people also agreed with the CEO, noting that a local civic event in one city should not necessitate a nationwide market shutdown.
In Arora's post, many people pointed out that it's wrong to compare civic body polls with the budget.
Fair point @Iamsamirarora, though the issue is about consistency and rationale.
— Aditya Garg 🇮🇳 (@Garg_Aditya_) January 15, 2026
Markets close globally on predictable holidays, but when a local municipal election disrupts trading — while we aim to be globally integrated — it signals ad-hoc decision-making rather than a…
"Fair point, though the issue is about consistency and rationale. Markets close globally on predictable holidays, but when a local municipal election disrupts trading - while we aim to be globally integrated - it signals ad-hoc decision-making rather than a principle-based holiday calendar," a user commented on Arora's post.
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