Mumbai: Business establishments today (Dec 25, 2003) remained closed in Nandurbur district of Maharashtra in response to a VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) sponsored bandh to protest Maharashtra Government's denial of permission to a 'Conversion Sammelan' to be addressed by Praveen Togadia.

However, district authorities have continued the prohibitory orders, imposed since Monday night (Dec 22) as a precautionary measure after the State Minorities' Commission (MSMC) asked the Government to revoke permission to Togadia even as VHP expressed its determination to go ahead with it.

The district authorities have deployed three platoons of SRPF, the Nadurbar District Collector Sanjay Khandare told reporters today adding that the prohibitory order (Section 144) would continue till this evening.

However, orders prohibiting carrying of arms will continue for some more time, he said.

Meanwhile, protection was being provided to the Christian community to attend the mass at the churches on the occasion of Christmas, he said adding that the midnight mass and early morning prayers went off peacefully.

All shops remained closed in most parts of the district, except in Shahada taluka, police said adding that essential services, however, were not affected. With the prohibitory order continuing in Navapur in Nandurbar district and the Government denying permission to the Sammelan, the VHP had yesterday (Dec 24) shifted its gathering to Dalmati town in neighbouring Gujarat.

The Aurangabad bench of Mumbai High Court had also asked them to hold the Sammelan three days after Christmas.