1. Giriraj Singh, who wanted to send Modi’s critics to Pakistan, was made the minister of state for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. He faces criminal charges for delivering a hate speech and is out on bail.

2. India’s public broadcaster Doordarshan decided to air RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s speech live. Prominent private news channels such as Times Now, Zee News and CNN-IBN also aired the speech on their channels. It is unclear whether a directive to telecast the speech was sent from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) to the channel. The speech was on the occasion of the foundation day of RSS, a Hindu organisation with a growing clout. Will DD also live broadcast the Shahi Imam’s speech on Eid?

3. The BJP’s refusal to fire Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, a minister in the central government, who made abusive remarks about religious minorities at a rally last week. A statement by PM Modi on the issue almost absolved Sadhvi. Defying demands for her resignation, the BJP will continue to have Sadhvi campaign for the party for the upcoming Delhi elections.

4. In an interview with Fareed Zakaria, Modi said Al-Qaeda would not get any support from Indian Muslims because “Indian Muslims will live for India. They will die for India.” The comments, though may sound good, are at odds with the reality as many Muslims continue to be harassed as terror suspects in India. Moreover, Modi’s remarks contradict that of some of his party leaders, whose attitude toward Indian Muslims he has failed to change. And Muslims certainly don’t need a patriotism certificate from anyone!

5. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the government should immediately declare Hindu scripture Bhagwad Gita as the national book. She went on to say one must read Gita to reduce depression and that eating chocolates or popping pills won’t help. Any takers? No thanks, I want my chocolates!

6. A BJP leader claimed a part of the Taj Mahal was part of an ancient temple. Lakshmikant Bajpayee, BJP chief of Uttar Pradesh, said a substantial section of Taj Mahal was part of a palace and a temple, which was owned by King Jai Singh from whom Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had bought the land. What next, you ask? Perhaps Falaknuma Palace was a Hindu king’s mansion?

7. HRD Minister Smriti Irani’s orders to government-run schools to start teaching Sanskrit instead of German in the middle of an academic year. In the era of globalization, Sanskrit fails to provide any job opportunities for Indians. The move was seen as one to please the RSS than for the welfare of the students. Sanskrit is the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, used in Hindu religious rituals and Buddhist practice in the forms of hymns and mantras.

8. The newly formed BJP-Sena government in Maharashtra became the first ever government in the state not having a single Muslim minister. Muslims comprise 10-12 percent of the state population.

9. PM Modi recently created a Ministry for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) and made a pitch for declaring an ‘international yoga day’ in a speech at the United Nations in September. Yoga is a controversial subject. Some are of the view that it should not be allowed at all, while others believe some of its practices are permissible while others are forbidden. Irrespective of that, it is common knowledge that the origin of yoga stems from idolatrous Hindu beliefs and Buddhism.

10. When a vocal PM like Modi chose to remain silent when his party leaders made statements about the construction of a Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, or about declaring India a “Hindu rashtra,” or when BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj said all madrassas are centers of terrorism. Modi also didn’t utter a word on incidents against the Muslim community, such as, the Shiv Sena legislator attacking a Muslim during his Ramadan and shoving food down his mouth. Sometimes silence is golden but in this case, it can be dangerous.

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