Panaji, Aug 17 (IANS): Even as the Congress has been overtly critical of social activist Anna Hazare's latest agitation, the Goa unit of the National Students Union of India (NSUI), a frontal organisation of the party, begs to differ.

Goa NSUI president Sunil Kavthankar said the students unit was wholeheartedly in support of the veteran Gandhian, who has taken the battle on corruption to the central government, albeit in a non-violent manner.

"Whoever is opposing corruption, we are wholeheartedly in support of them," Kavthankar told reporters at a press conference here, even as several public demonstrations are planned in the state Wednesday.

"Hazare is fighting against corruption so we are supporting him. We may not agree with his methods but Hazare's fight is for something good. We are all for it," he added.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a protest meeting at Azad Maidan here where they denounced the central United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's attempts to muzzle a democratic voice.

"We never thought we were going to see a repeat of the Emergency in our lifetimes. But looks like the Congress-led central government is leading us on that path," state BJP president Laxmikant Parsenkar said.

Hazare was jailed in Delhi early Tuesday ahead of his fast for a strong anti-corruption law, sparking protests that drew tens of thousands across India.

The authorities did a U-turn later in the day and declared him free, but the fasting activist refused to walk out of jail until he was allowed to hold his planned fast without any conditions.