'Team Anna's focus on political plans not murder of movement': BJP

New Delhi, Aug 3 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday described Team Anna's move to form a political party not the murder of their movement against corruption.

BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the movement led by veteran social activist Anna Hazare was a part of the public outrage and voice against corruption.

"I don't see this as the murder of this movement. Anna Hazare's movement was a part of the public outrage and voice against corruption. It is not that the voice against corruption has gone down. There is anger and outrage on this issue in the country even today," said Naqvi.

"Of course, the people of the country today want a corruption free system. It is very good that they now want to carry forward their fight through democratic means," he added.

Naqvi, however, emphasized that the Indian democratic system is free from the evils of corruption.

"If some people in the government are corrupt, then this does not mean that our whole democratic system is corrupt," he added.

Naqvi said everybody has the right to form a political party.

"There are more than 1100 political parties in this country. All the political parties go to the people on the basis of their ideas, philosophy and work. But I believe that our country is a democratic country and we are proud of it," said Naqvi.

"In a democracy, there are challenges as well as elections. In a democracy, the challenges are fought on the roads as well as through elections. The democracy of this country has witness that if the government is steeped in ego, then the people of the country have overthrown it through the power of elections," he added.

Team Anna will call off their indefinite hunger strike at 5 p.m. today after nine days of fasting.

Veteran social activist Anna Hazare made an announcement in this regard on Thursday.

Addressing the gathering at the Jantar Mantar here, Hazare said he and his team are going to end their fast on Friday, and added that his aides want feedback within 48 hours on whether they should form a political party.

Asserting that power should rest with the people in a true democracy, Hazare yesterday reiterated that there is nothing wrong in forming a political party.

Hazare said power should be with the people of the country.

"In a true democracy, power should be in the hands of the people. The power must be given to the public. Village land, village water belongs to the village. There is a government in Delhi, but in the village, we are the government. Village has the right over coal, water in the village," he said.

Hazare asked his supporters to dislodge those leaders, who don't give in to people's demand.

He, however, said that he himself would not enter politics.

"I will not get into politics. I will fight from the outside. You have to think who goes into a party. Do they have a good character? Such people only should be given a ticket. If you want to change the nation, form a party. But see who is going into that party. How will you monitor them? You have to think about that," said Hazare.

"The people who ask for your votes, whether they are right or wrong, should be monitored," he added.

The 75-year-old social activist also reiterated that the government is not serious on bringing a strong anti-graft bill to combat rampant corruption in the country.

The government, however, hit back at Team Anna, saying they have always been power-hungry and must contest elections to prove its claim of representing the will of the people.

The standoff between the UPA and Team Anna intensified after the latter demanded the setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of retired judges of Supreme and High Courts, to probe charges of corruption against 15 cabinet ministers, including the Prime Minister . (ANI)