No peace marches in Uttar Pradesh till Ayodhya verdict

Ahead of the Ayodhya title suit verdict to be pronounced later this week, the Uttar Pradesh government has cancelled all the requests pending before the district magistrates to take out "peace marches" in the state.

"On the directions of the government, permissions to hold peace marches have been cancelled from today till further orders", additional district magistrate OP Pathak told PTI.

He said that the move has been taken to maintain law and order in the district.

A number of social organisations had proposed to hold peace march today to appeal for peace and brotherhood.

"The permission given earlier to hold such marches also stood cancelled", Pathak said.

"This order implies for the entire state", a senior home department official said.

The princiapal secretary Home Kunwar Fateh Bahadur has issued directives to all the DMs and district police chiefs not to permit processions, rallies and meetings in which a large number of people would gather.

The government also ordered a ban on celebratory firing, distribution of sweets and other actions expressing reaction of a community post high court judgment.

The government is also contemplating to cancel all the examinations, competitive and others on September 24 and have sought a report in this regard from DMs.