'Ensure end of caste system first': Athawale calls reservation constitutional right

Large gathering at Jantar Mantar over caste based reservationNEW DELHI: Union MoS for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Saturday said reservation is a “constitutional right” and termed demands for its abolition “unconstitutional”, arguing that several needy communities continue to benefit from the system.Addressing a press conference, Athawale said some people had demanded the abolition of reservation during protests at Jantar Mantar, while similar campaigns were also being run on social media. “Reservation cannot be removed because it is our constitutional right,” he said, news agency PTI reported.Athawale said reservation, initially provided for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, had been expanded to include other sections, including Economically Weaker Sections. He a