Probe why us is backing anna movement, Cong to govt

The Congress on Sunday accused the United States of supporting the anti-corruption campaign of social activist Anna Hazare, and asked the government to “probe and expose” the forces behind this movement.

The Congress on Sunday accused the United States of supporting the anti-corruption campaign of social activist Anna Hazare, and asked the government to “probe and expose” the forces behind this movement.

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“Annaji is alone. Annaji has no organisation of his own but only a few friends standing by him. The big question is how this movement
came into existence? Who is running it? Why is US supporting this movement?” asked Congress spokesman Rashid Alvi in the routine press briefing at Parliament house.

The party was referring to a recent statement by US state department spokesperson Victoria Nuland where she said India would exercise “appropriate democratic restraint” in the way it deals with peaceful protests.

The remark made in Hazare’s context had evoked angry reactions among the Indians with both the government and the opposition alike dismissing it as “needless”, prompting Nuland to retract and exude confidence in its ability to manage its internal situation in consistent with democratic values”.

The party asked the government to “probe” the reasons behind the support for Hazare’s movement.