Washington:
After a diplomatic tiff over its alleged remarks on Anna Hazare's protests, the US has today marked its distance from the anti-corruption movement in India.
"Let me start by saying that the ongoing situation in India is an internal matter for Indians. The US does not play a role in this," US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters at her daily news conference.
"We're confident that India will be able to address its current political disputes and tackle popular concerns about corruption using its democratic system," she added.
Earlier this week, Ms Nuland had told reporters in Washington, that the US counted on a democratic India to "exercise restraint" against peaceful protesters.
"As you know, we support the right of peaceful, non-violent protest around the world," Nuland said when asked if the US was concerned over alleged police brutality against peaceful demonstrators in India.
"That said, India is a democracy, and we count on India to exercise appropriate democratic restraint in the way it deals with peaceful protest," she added, responding to a question about the planned protest against corruption on August 16.
Yesterday, Senator John McCain who was in Delhi, had told NDTV, ''The US does not involve itself in what is taking place in the world's largest democracy and neither has it any intention of doing so. Indian democracy is strong and successful and it will be able to address the current domestic disputes and conflicts."