With the rising opposition against the move to celebrate Britain’s victory following the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny, the Uttar Pradesh Government on Sunday said it would not allow any function to be held during the proposed visit by a group of Britons here on Tuesday.

“There is no problem if someone wants to pay homage to his forefathers in a peaceful manner...but we shall not allow any celebration,” Principal Secretary J N Chamber said. He said nobody would be allowed to celebrate or make speeches on the occasion and law and order would be maintained at all cost.

Asked whether the Government would ban the entry of the Britons as demanded by the BJP and some other organisations, Chamber said “where is the need to ban their entry”.

Earlier in the day the Samajwadi Party joined the BJP in its call to oppose the British delegation. An SP spokesperson said the Centre and the BSP Government in UP have brought shame on the nation by allowing the delegation to celebrate the British victory in 1857.

Prominent Muslim organisations and clerics have already opposed the visit of the 19-member British delegation to the state capital.