Rape allegations against MNS workers a conspiracy: Raj

MUMBAI: Terming rape allegations against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists as a conspiracy, party chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday said "efforts are on to misguide our youth and women voters ahead of Assembly polls."

"This (rape allegations) are a conspiracy ahead of Assembly elections," Raj said, addressing a meeting of party functionaries at Matunga in central Mumbai.

On one of those arrested in the recent Andheri gang rape case being an activist of MNS, Raj said such people are there in all parties. "However, this (rape) was not the party order. If someone is doing wrong, what the party can do about it," he asked.

Raj flayed English media for 'highlighting the news out of proportion.'

"These newspapers do not give enough coverage to our litteraeurs but the news about the rape was carried on the front page," he said.

The MNS chief ridiculed Shiv Sena's protest at MHADA office on housing issues of the city people, saying the protest was not for housing issues but only for Marathi votes.

On MNS leaders-- Shweta Parulkar and Prakash Mahajan joining the Sena, he said, "anyone who wants to leave can do so now. I have enough strength to create crores of activists."