US comments on peaceful protests needless: India

PTI

New Delhi, 12 August 2011: India on Friday called US’ comments asking for restraint in dealing with peaceful protests a "needless" one. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vishnu Prakash responded to comments by US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland by saying that freedoms of speech and expression, are enshrined in the Constitution of India.

 

"We have seen the needless comments by the US State Department Spokesperson on handling of peaceful protests in India. Freedoms of speech and expression, as well as, of peaceful assembly, are enshrined in the Constitution of India and exercised by citizens of this country of 1.2 billion people," Prakash said.

 

 

Nuland had earlier advised the Indian government to exercise restraint while dealing with protests like those undertaken by Anna Hazare.

 

"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," Nuland replied when asked a question about the proposed hunger strike by Hazare from August 16.

 

Social activist Anna Hazare will hold a protest fast starting August 16 for three days for an anti-corruption Jan Lokpal Bill.