NEW DELHI: Suspecting a "foreign" hand behind Anna Hazare's anti-graft movement, the Congress on Wednesday raised questions on the US' statement that India should exercise "appropriate democratic restraint" in dealing with peaceful protest and asked the government to inquire how a "lone" civil rights activist is drawing support.

"US never supported any movement in India since its independence. For the first time, the US said that Anna Hazare's movement should be allowed and there should be no obstruction to it. What was the need for the US 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 US 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 as UPA government has many times in past been attacked by the Left over an alleged pro-US tilt more so after India signed the nuclear deal, Alvi said "all that I have said I have said on behalf of my party".

Asked whether Congress has made preliminary inquiries before making this allegation suggesting that the US was behind Anna's agitation, he said "government should inquire about it and find out the truth".