Indian spokesman points finger at US over protests

A spokesman for India's ruling party has suggested the United States might have a role in the wave of anti-corruption protests posing a growing challenge to the government.
Indian leaders have traditionally held suspicions that foreign interference may lie behind any opposition movement, although recent administrations have taken a more internationalist outlook and built strong ties with the US.
Congress party spokesman Rashid Alvi latched onto comments made last week by the US State Department in which Washington said it counted on India "to exercise appropriate democratic restraint" when handling the protests.
"The US had never spoken about any movement in India. This is the first time that it did," Alvi was quoted as saying by the Times of India yesterday.
"We show the path of democracy to others, what was the need for the US to say it? This has created suspicion."
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself hinted at outside interference during an address to parliament on Wednesday.
"We are now emerging as one of the important players on the world stage," he said.
"There are many forces that would not like to see India realise its true place in the comity of nations. We must not play into their hands."
But the United States blamed 'some extremely inaccurate reporting out of India' for the “confusion”.
'Well, I'm not sure what those statements might have been based on,' State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters Wednesday.
US Senator John McCain, who is currently visiting Delhi, dismissed the suggestions.
"The facts are that the United States of America does not involve itself in what is taking place in the world's largest democracy -- nor does the United States intend to," he said.
Anna Hazare, a veteran Indian anti-corruption campaigner, has become a figurehead of public discontent after inspiring huge protests against graft and bribery among officials.