Union minister Ramdas Athawale slams Raj Thackeray for 'anti-quota' remarks
Union minister Ramdas Athawale asked MNS chief Raj Thackeray to retract his anti-reservation comments or face a boycott by Dalits and backward classes in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. Thackeray's remarks advocating job priority for locals over caste-based reservations ignited protests from Maratha quota activists and others. The elections are due in October.