MNS`s agitation was orchestrated by state and Raj: Azmi

Mumbai: Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi on Friday alleged that MNS`s agitation against the road toll was stage-managed by both Raj Thackeray and the state government. "Shiv Sena first raised the toll issue in Kolhapur. To nullify Sena`s agitation, Congress used Raj Thackeray. Congress does not want to win election on the strength of the work it has done. It wants to win by making false assurances to the minorities and fooling them," the SP leader said in a press release.

Azmi also alleged that the state government bowed to the pressure from Shiv Sena and MNS, which is why the Mumbai police cancelled the permission granted to an exhibition organised by his party recently at the Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh. "Due to pressure from Shiv Sena and MNS and by using the police force the exhibition was cancelled. Police said there was an order from Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan (to disallow it) as it would upset Raj `sahab`," Azmi alleged.