Muslim groups, Left parties and other organisations have come together to oppose the visit of US President George W Bush to India -- and to this southern city.
About 40 groups, including the Jamaat-e-Islami, Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), Tameer-e-Millat, the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist, their affiliated trade unions and civil liberties groups have formed a forum to chalk out protests.
A day after holding a 'people's court' here where Bush was held guilty of perpetrating terrorism and mass murders, the forum on Monday announced its decision to take to the streets.
Moulana Abdul Basit Anwar of Jamaat-e-Islami told a news conference that a public meeting would be held March 2 and a rally and sit-in March 3, when Bush is scheduled to visit the city for a few hours.
The Jamaat-e-Islami has along with other Muslim political, religious and social groups already called for a shutdown during Bush's presence in Hyderabad.
It said a memorandum would be submitted to the Andhra Pradesh governor with thousands of signatures collected in the city to oppose Bush's visit.
Anwar said e-mail messages and letters would also be sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to cancel Bush's visit.
Shia groups, angry over destruction of a sacred shrine in Samarra in Iraq, have joined the forum.
{{/usCountry}}Shia groups, angry over destruction of a sacred shrine in Samarra in Iraq, have joined the forum.
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