US advises India to exercise restraint while dealing with anti-corruption activists
13 Aug 2011
The battle against corruption by civil society activists in India is now getting globalised, with the US also intervening in the matter and advising the Indian government to "exercise restraint" while dealing with protestors.
A statement by Victoria Nuland, the spokesperson of the US state department, calling on India to act with restraint while dealing with anti-corruption activists, has however, caused a storm with political parties warning the US not to interfere in the country's internal affairs.
Responding to a question on Anna Hazare's proposed fast from 16 August in Delhi, Nuland told reporters in Washington DC that India was a democracy and the US counted on it to "exercise appropriate democratic restraint in the way it deals with peaceful protest."
Asked about the alleged police brutality on peaceful demonstrators, she replied, "As you know, we support the right of peaceful, non-violent protest around the world."
The Indian government resorted to strong police action against yoga teacher and spiritual leader Baba Ramdev and baton-charged his supporters to break up a hunger strike against corruption in Delhi a few weeks ago.
The police action against Ramdev's followers invited widespread criticism, with the government being accused of being harsh with peaceful demonstrators, with the Supreme Court demanding an explanation from the central government and the Delhi police (See: SC quizzes Delhi police on action against Ramdev).
The US state department spokesperson's comments, however, have expectedly been slammed in India. Both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), criticised the US government, and even the spokesman of the Indian external affairs minister was critical of Nuland's comments.
