BJP slams State Depart's remarks on Anna

BJP on Friday slammed the remarks of the US State Department on Anna Hazare, saying no country has any right or authoriuty to advise India on how it handles protests.

BJP today slammed the remarks of the US State Department on Anna Hazare, saying no country has any right or authoriuty to advise India on how it handles protests.

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"...India is a sovereign country and no country,including the US, has got any right or authoriuty to advise India as to how to handle the situation," BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said here.

He said the Indian democratic polity "with a vibrant Opposition led by BJP" is capable enough to handle all such situations in a constitutional manner consistent with democratic principles.

Prasad said his party feels Anna Hazare is articulating the concerns and distress of the people of India over a series
of scams under the UPA government. "BJP itself is strongly campaigning against it both inside and outside Parliament," he added.

Ahead of Hazare's proposed August 16 fast, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said in Washington that "as you know, we support the right of peaceful, non-violent protest around the world. That said, India is a democracy and we count on India to exercise appropriate democratic restraint in the way it deals with peaceful protest."