Union minister Ramdas Athawale Sunday blamed the police for an incident in which a man tried to slap him at a public event in Maharashtra's Thane district claiming it had failed to provide him adequate security. The Republican Party of India (Athawale) chief was in Ambernath town to address a rally late Saturday when Pravin Gosavi (30) tried to slap him.

In a statement issued Sunday morning, Athawale said, "Police did not provide sufficient protection, that helped the assailant to target me. My popularity is growing and it may have resulted in a jealous person charging against me. I am going to meet the chief minister of Maharashtra regarding the same."