Indian shops and business establishments closed on Bush’s visit

[sonz]

Leaders of a number of Muslim political and religious organisations in Hyderabad called Sunday for shutdown on March 3 to protest the visit of the American President George W. Bush to the Indian city.

"We are appealing to people in Hyderabad, its twin city Secunderabad and neighbouring Mahabubnagar district to close their shops and business establishments as a mark of protest," said Tameer-e-Millat president Moulana Rahim Qureshi.

"This is to protest against the Bush administration's anti-Muslim and anti-Islam policies around the world."

Bush is set to visit the Andhra Pradesh state capital on March 3. He’s also scheduled to visit a village in Mahabubnagar.

"As Muslims it is our duty to raise our voice against these policies, especially the atrocities committed in Afghanistan and Iraq and the continued support of the U.S. to Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine,” Qureshi, the secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, said, adding:

"We are also protesting against America's attempts to have its hegemony in Asia by preventing countries in the region from acquiring strategic nuclear capabilities. The pressure on India to sign the nuclear deal is part of this strategy," he said.

"We are appealing to the people to shut their businesses as a mark of protest. It will be a peaceful and democratic agitation and the strike call will not be forcibly enforced," Akbaruddin Owaisi, the leader of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) said in the state assembly.

Source: New Kerala