Vested interests behind protests: Cong

Expressing regret over the killing of a person in the alleged police firing on those protesting against the nuclear power project in Jaitapur,the Congress on Tuesday suggested that the agitation was being stoked by vested interests and forces inimical to Indias economic growth.

The death of a person in police firing or otherwise is always regrettable and no party sensitive towards peoples aspirations will ever condone it. But what has to be seen is whether the agitation was based on some real concerns or completely imaginary concerns and was being stoked by vested interests, Congress spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters here.

It is also important for all stakeholders to isolate forces,which are,whether for political or other extraneous reasons,stoking imaginary concerns, he said.

Wondering whether powers who want to stop Indias economic growth are not behind such agitations,Tewari said similar forces were opposing hydro power projects during the 1980s and 1990s.