New Delhi, Aug 18: The Opposition today asked the Prime Minister to identify the “forces” he had alleged were out to undermine India's interests while spelling out government stand on Anna Hazare issue in Parliament.
The parties also asked the ruling Congress to explain its statements that it suspected a “foreign” hand behind Hazare's anti-graft campaign and that the government should inquire “why the US is supporting this movement?”
“Let the PM explain. Whenever the government is under siege, it tries the foreign hand. It is an old tactic of the government,” senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
CPI leader D Raja said, “If the Prime Minister has something in his mind that some forces are undermining India, he must identify these forces and clarify. Then only he can motivate the country. He must identify which are these forces.”
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, while making a statement on Hazare issue in Parliament, had 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.”
Raja asked, “Who are the persons who are trying to undermine India? You tell us clearly. The statement is vague. Now the PM has to clarify what he means by that?”
Meanwhile, Congress spokesman Rashid Alvi, who had stated yesterday that the US was behind Hazare's agitation, maintained that “it is the first time that the US has said something like this and put pressure on the government to allow Anna to run his movement.
“This has never happened earlier. This is a big question, on which we have to think and discuss seriously,” he said.
The BJP lashed out at the Congress for putting the blame on outside forces. PTI
