Muslim business communities in Mumbai and the neighbouring Thane district have decided to stop undertaking any financial transactions with American and British banks besides boycotting the products manufactured by companies from these countries.
Muslim leaders, who had gathered at the haj house this morning to protest against the killings of innocent people in Afghanistan by the continous bombing of the US-led allied forces, said that their community would opt for peaceful agitation against US and UK without resorting to any demonstrations and rallies.
The business community as well as individuals have stopped dealing with american and british banks while urging others to follow them. However, they have not included American or British educational institutions and pharmaceutical companies operating in India in their economic boycott campaign.
Muslim hotels to boycott American products
More than 800 hotels in the city, including some five star ones, owned by Muslims, have decided to boycott all American and British products and promote Indian goods from today, to protest US attack on Afghanistan. Speaking at the meeting of Indian Hoteliers' Association, its chairman Shahabuddin Sheikh said, the boycott was only to "send signals to the Western world".
"For the last two decades, Afghanistan has been used as an attack on humanity and it has already become a graveyard. We can no longer tolerate the inhuman attack on innocents," he said.
The owners of the hotels (serving non-alcoholic drinks only) said they would also boycott all drinks of US and UK brand and promote Indian drinks like 'Kashmira' and 'Bir'.
All the members have been asked to suspend transactions through Citi Bank, American Express and Bank of America. The Muslim comunity in the city have also informed! the Police Commissioner M N Singh that the boycott movement will be peaceful, Sheikh said.
The General Secretary of the Association
Junaid Patel said, "the boycott movement would initially be launched in
the city, which then be extended to the state and the country in a democratic,
non-violent protest". Patel also pointed out that "the movement of economic
boycott will also show the world that Indian muslim community is
matured in its expression".