MIM using drugs to lure Muslim youth: Nitesh Rane

Mumbai: A day after his father and Congress heavyweight Narayan Rane lost the Bandra (East) Assembly bypoll, Congress MLA Nitesh Rane Thursday alleged that MIM was using drugs to lure Muslim youths, a charge denied by the party.

"MIM is spreading its wings among the youth in the community through drugs. The party is not only a threat to the country and politics, but also to the future of Muslim youths," Nitesh told reporters.

He said he would write to the Election Commission to debar the Hyderabad-based political outfit from contesting election in future.

Nitesh said he was levelling the allegation based on the "experiences" he had while campaigning for his father in the bypoll.

When contacted, MIM MLA from Byculla seat in South Mumbai Waris Pathan told PTI that the charges were false and baseless.

"I was the one who raised the issue of MD Drugs in the Legislative Assembly, and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that MD drug would be included in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NPDS) Act. Why will my party indulge into such activities? This is nothing but frustration after losing the election. If there is a substance in his (Nitesh's) charges, why did he keep quiet till the results (were out)," Pathan said.

"I am ready to accompany him to the police," the MIM leader said adding Nitesh should file a police complaint if his allegations have any base.

MIM, led by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, had put up an impressive show in the state Assembly elections last year, winning two seats in debut.

In the prestigious contest fought on the home turf of Thackeray clan, Shiv Sena's Trupti Sawant trounced Rane, a former Sainik, by a margin of over 19,000 votes while the MIM candidate Siraj Khan polled about 10,000 votes.