NEW DELHI, July 29: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Sunday extended their support to veteran social activist Anna Hazare’s indefinite fast against corruption.

Urging people not to weaken or downplay the movement, senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said it should not been seen as against democracy.

Interacting with media persons here, Naqvi said, “We should not try to either weaken or downplay the fight against corruption. On the other hand, people who are fighting against corruption should keep in mind that their agitation should not become rudderless. The movement should be against corruption and it should not been seen as against democracy.”

Echoing similar sentiments senior leader of the CPI, D Raja, said Team Anna shouldn’t denigrate all political parties as corrupt.

“Team Anna shouldn’t denigrate all the political parties as corrupt. After all we are a parliamentary democracy. All the politicians are not bad, one should understand. If all the politicians had been corrupt this country would have collapsed,” Raja said.

Raja also favoured enactment of a strong and effective Lokpal Bill to counter corruption at higher places in government.

“There should be strong and effective Lokpal. In fact our party has been demanding an effective and strong Lokpal legislation to be passed by parliament. We may demand that it should be passed by monsoon session,” Raja added.

Earlier in the day, Hazare began his crusade at Jantar Mantar, joining Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai, who have been fasting since Wednesday to press for a strong Jan Lokpal Bill, besides demanding an inquiry into allegations of corruption against 15 central ministers, including Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. (Agencies)