Agnives criticised Modi's "deafening silence" on Yoga Guru Ramdev's "purient and degrading honeymoon remarks aginst Rahul Gandhi.
"While rest of the world has condemned Ramdev but your party sought to defend him. An emphatic and no-nonsense statement from you may clear the air of these misgivings. Anything short of this might be seen as hypocrisy," Agnivesh said.
He said Modi's speeches and interviews in the recent past and during election campaigns were quite reassuring at their face value.
"I would urge you to disown and publicly condemn bigots like Togadia, who are a threat to 'Sanatan Dharma' and its values of truth, love, compassion, and justice," Agnivesh said in the open letter sent to Modi.
He congratulated Modi for his prompt distancing of himself "from the unsavory and outright stupid remarks of Togadia, Giriraj Singh and Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam".
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
