Union Minister and Republican Party of India (Athawale) chief Ramdas Athawale on Thursday announced that his party will launch a nationwide agitation from October 15, demanding reservation for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in the private sector.

Athawale, who also holds the portfolio of Social Justice and Empowerment, further said that he supports activist Manoj Jarange’s demand for Maratha reservation, but clarified that the quota should not be carved out of the OBC category, according to the news agency PTI. 

RPI (A) will press for extending reservation to private industries as well as autonomous universities, Athawale said at the conclusion of a two-day brainstorming camp of the party.