Vancouver-based Indians Abroad for Pluralist India (IAPI) has condemned the recent attack on Swami Agnivesh by supporters of the Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).

Agnivesh is a vocal critic of superstition and religious fundamentalism. He has been speaking out against growing intolerance and attacks on minorities under the BJP government in India. He was viciously beaten during his visit to Jharkhand by those affiliated with the BJP.

The attack was aimed at intimidating Agnivesh and muzzling a voice of reason. This follows a series of murders of rationalist scholars and activists by those who are seeking to turn India into a Hindu theocracy.

According to IAPI, the incident that left Agnivesh badly injured must be taken seriously in the light of the killings of Narendra Dahbolkar, Gobind Pansare, MM Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh by the Hindu extremists.

The IAPI statement issued to the press also deplored the recent attack on the office of senior Congress Party leader Shashi Tharoor who came under sharp criticism from BJP supporters for denouncing attempts to turn India into an exclusionist Hindu state.

"Though we don’t agree with the policies of the Congress party and will continue to question its secular credentials for its involvement in sectarian politics for opportunistic reasons, we believe that Tharoor should not be targeted for saying the right thing. Any act of violence to suppress the voice of those who believe in a diverse and pluralistic society must be condemned by everyone".