Indian National Congress was founded with the help and blessings of the British Government in general and the Viceroy Lord Dufferin in particular.
Therefore, initially the official attitude towards Congress was of neutrality and indifference if not favourable. But soon, especially after fourth session of INC (1888), the government adopted hostile attitude towards the organization.
Despite its moderate methods and its emphasis on loyalty to British crown, the INC failed to secure any substantial concession from the government.
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Instead the government encouraged the elements hostile to the Congress like Aligarh Movement and Raja Shiva Prashad of Banaras.
The British attitude became even more hostile to the Congress under Lord Curzon whose greatest ambition was to assist the Congress to a peaceful demise.
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The government under Curzon wanted to weaken the nationalist elements in general and Congress in particular by driving the wedge amongst the leader in the name of religion and communalize the Indian politics by partitioning Bengal in 1905, on communal grounds.
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On the contrary partition of Bengal further fanned the nationalist discontent and strengthened the base of Congress which graduated to become movement supported by people irrespective of socio-economic, religious and cultural differences.