Maha: Raj Thackeray hits back at R R Patil over rape remark

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray today attacked senior NCP leader R R Patil for his controversial comment on the criminal background of an MNS candidate who is in the poll fray against Patil in the latter's home turf.
"Earlier, he (MNS candidate Sudhakar Khade) was booked in a rape case in 2007, but was later acquitted by court. NCP leaders have a tendency to make such vulgar comments," Raj told an election rally in Cidco area of Nashik tonight.
Khade is taking on Patil in the latter's pocket-borough Tasgaon-Kavthemahankal in Sangli district of western Maharashtra.
With the campaigning for October 15 elections entering the last leg, Patil has stoked a major controversy when he said that an MNS nominee for the Assembly poll jailed for the offence of rape could have waited for elections to get over before committing the crime.

"MNS has fielded a candidate. Today MNS activists met me and said they would back me (in the elections). When I asked them why, they said their candidate is in jail," the former state home minister said.
"I asked as to what good act he has done? They told me that a rape case has been registered against him. If he wanted to contest and become an MLA, he should have committed rape after the elections," Patil had told his supporters at Sangli yesterday.

The NCP leader has also expressed regret over his comments.
Accusing NCP of having a "tendency" to make such controversial statements, Raj referred to the ignominious "urination in dam" comments made by former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, and a "double voting" remark made by NCP chief Sharad Pawar ahead of Lok Sabha elections.

Making light of BJP's assertion that it is contesting elections on its own, Raj said that BJP has in fact "imported" as many as 60 rebels from Congress and NCP and given them tickets.
He also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for addressing a number of rallies in the state and for not being in New Delhi.
"Modi is addressing rallies for the candidates who lacked vision. These candidates are only involved in criticising others and have no future plan to take the state forward," the MNS chief said.