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Ban on Babri meet, Ayodhya security tightened

Security in Ayodhya has been tightened following a ban on the proposed Babri conference today.

The Samajwadi Party's minority cell had planned to hold the conference at Narendralaya auditorium in Faizabad city today but apprehending breach of peace, the district administration imposed a ban on it.

Provincial armed constabulary personnel have been deployed in and around the auditorium and at all sensitive points in the city.

The administration has also banned the entry of SP general secretary Amar Singh, MP, in Faizabad district.

Superintendent of Police (rural) Niranjan Prasad said Amar Singh had been informed about the ban and if he tried to violate it, legal action would be taken against him.

Meanwhile, a report from Lucknow quoting Amar Singh said he was stopped by the state authorities from proceeding towards Ayodhya.

He said on reaching Lucknow he was handed an order of the additional district magistrate (city), Faizabad, saying his visit to Ayodhya might endanger communal harmony in the city.

Amar Singh described the order as an example of the fascist attitude of the Bharatiya Janata Party government. ''I am a responsible citizen of the country. I would never indulge in activities which could ignite communal tension in Ayodhya or anywhere else,'' he said.

The SP leader said he had postponed his proposed visit to Ayodhya not because of the Uttar Pradesh government. ''I have definite information that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bajrang Dal activist are planning to trigger violence. He said he cancelled his visit to defeat the evil designs of the communal forces.

UNI

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