Date: 17 Aug 2011
THE HINDU 17 AUGUST, 2011 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Cong. wants to know ‘truth’ behind U.S. remark on Anna protest The Congress on Wednesday raised questions on the U.S. statement that India would exercise “appropriate democratic restraint” in dealing with peaceful protest and asked the government to inquire how a “lone” civil rights activist is drawing support. “U.S. never supported any movement in India since its independence. For the first time, the U.S. said that Anna Hazare’s movement should be allowed and there should be no obstruction to it. What was the need for the U.S. to give this statement? \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ “It needs to be considered whether there is any power which is supporting this movement which wants to destabilise not only the government but the country. We need to take the statement of the U.S. seriously,” party spokesperson Rashid Alvi told reporters at the AICC briefing. \\\\\\\\\\\\ Asked whether it is the official position of the party and whether he is saying all this on the party’s behalf, Mr. Alvi said, “All that I have said, I have said on behalf of my party.” \\\\\\\\\\\\ Asked whether the Congress has made preliminary inquiries before making this allegation suggesting that the U.S. was behind Mr. Hazare’s agitation, he said “government should inquire about it and find out the truth”. \\\\\\\\\\\\ 000000000\\\\