Harshvardhan Patil after the incident
Protesters demanding reservations for the Dhangar community threw ink on Maharashtra cooperatives minister Harshvardhan Patil near Indapur in Pune district this morning.
Mr Patil, who is also the Congress legislator from Indapur, had gone to the area to attend a programme. The protesters accosted him when he was about to leave.
Some of the ink got into Mr Patil's left eye, and he was rushed to a local hospital. There was some fear of injury since he complained of a burning sensation. But doctors said his vision has not been affected.
Two persons were detained by the police for interrogation.
Protests by the Dhangar community had intensified lately across the state. The community leaders demand inclusion in scheduled tribes category and the benefits of reservation.
Later, the minister appealed to Congress workers, who were protesting against the incident, to maintain peace.
"I have always demanded justice for the Dhangar community, and have been supporting their cause," Mr Patil told PTI.