Prohibitory orders clamped in Rae Bareli, Sonia's rally put-off

Lucknow, Oct 13 (UNI) The proposed public rally of Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her parliamentary constituency tomorrow has been postponed, following implementation of Prohibitory Orders in the entire Rae Bareli district tonight.

According to sources, the district authority of Rae Bareli has clamped the orders till Diwali under section 144 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), according to which no public gathering could be held in the district during the period.

The Rae Bareli district authority, however, did not state any specific reason for the sudden implementation of the Prohibitory orders.

Congress spokesman Akhilesh Pratap Singh said due to this new development, the proposed public rally of the Congress chief at her constituency has been put-off.

As per the new schedule, Ms Gandhi would inaugurate the life-line express and would also meet selected party workers during her one day visit to the constituency.

The issue had raked up yesterday after the Uttar Pradesh government withdrew the land given to Railway ministry for the Rs 2,200 crore rail coach factory at Rae Bareli.

Ms Gandhi along with Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav were scheduled to hold the public rally after laying the foundation stone of the proposed project at Lalganj in Rae Bareli tomorrow.

However, the 'bhoomipujan' programme on the land was cancelled after the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court passed status quo order after the withdrawal of land by the UP government.

But now with the implementation of the Prohibitory orders, the public rally also stands postponed.

UNI MB JAS BDP CS2211