Facing severe flak over his "burn autorickshaws of outsiders" remark, MNS chief Raj Thackeray today appeared to tone down his aggressive posturing and asked party activists to halt the agitation even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured auto drivers protection.

Thackeray's call to end the stir for the time being came against the backdrop of an autorickshaw being set ablaze on Char Bungalow Road in Andheri (West) by unidentified persons last night, a day after the MNS chief made an aggressive speech to mark his party's 10th anniversary.