The Supreme Court of India on Thursday delivered a sharp rebuke to Madhya Pradesh Minister Vijay Shah over his controversial remarks directed at Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, a senior officer in the Indian Army. Chief Justice of India BR Gavai condemned the minister’s comments as “unacceptable and insensitive,” emphasising that individuals holding constitutional positions must exercise restraint in their speech.
During the court proceedings, Chief Justice Gavai questioned Minister Shah’s conduct, stating, “What sort of comments are you making? You should show some sense of sensibility. Go and apologise in the High Court.” The stern reprimand reflected the judiciary’s serious view of the remarks and their potential impact on social harmony.
The minister’s statements have sparked widespread condemnation from opposition leaders, military veterans, and even members within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). An FIR has been registered against Shah, and the Supreme Court declined to stay the High Court’s order mandating the initiation of criminal proceedings. Rejecting Shah’s plea for interim protection from arrest, the court said, “Nothing will happen to you in a day. You know who you are,” and agreed to hear the plea in detail on Friday.
The controversy originated from a speech delivered by Vijay Shah, who serves as Madhya Pradesh’s Tribal Welfare Minister, on May 12 at a public event in Raikunda village, Indore. During this address, Shah made remarks that many perceived as communal, gender-biased, and derogatory toward Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. Colonel Qureshi has gained national attention as a key spokesperson during briefings on Operation Sindoor, frequently appearing alongside senior officials like Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.
In his speech, Shah referred to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians lost their lives. Attempting to contrast the Indian government’s response with the terrorists’ actions, Shah made a veiled reference to Colonel Qureshi without naming her explicitly.
He claimed, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent their [terrorists’] sister aboard a military aircraft to retaliate.” Shah further said, “They made our sisters widows, so Modi ji sent a sister of their community to strip them and teach them a lesson. They undressed our Hindu brothers before killing them. We responded by sending their own sister to hit them in their houses.”
While Shah never directly named Colonel Qureshi, the context and timing of the remarks left little doubt about who he meant, making the statements especially inflammatory.
In response, the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Jabalpur acted promptly, issuing a strongly worded directive to the state’s Director General of Police to file an FIR against Minister Shah by the end of the day. The court warned that failure to comply would result in contempt proceedings.
The High Court noted that Shah’s remarks violated Indian laws and posed a grave threat to communal harmony. The court also underscored the importance of the Indian armed forces, calling them “perhaps the last institution in this country” embodying integrity, discipline, sacrifice, selflessness, honor, and indomitable courage.
Shah’s comments triggered significant political fallout. The opposition Congress party demanded his immediate dismissal, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge branding the remarks as “shameful and communal” and urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action. Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari accused the BJP of fostering hatred and polarization, sharing Shah’s speech video and calling for accountability.
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Unexpected criticism also emerged from within the BJP ranks. Veteran leader and former Chief Minister Uma Bharti condemned Shah’s remarks as “disgraceful” and called for his removal. Bharti tweeted, “Vijay Shah ji should be dismissed from the post of minister and FIR should be lodged against him immediately because he has brought shame to the entire nation.”
In an attempt to calm the situation, Vijay Shah has issued multiple public apologies, claiming his words were misunderstood and misrepresented by the media. He sought to clarify his position and expressed respect for Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.
“Sister Sofiya has brought glory to India by rising above caste and religion. She is more respected than our own sister. I salute her for her service to the nation. We cannot even think of insulting her in our dreams. Still, if my words have hurt society and religion, then I am ready to apologise ten times,” Shah said.
Despite these apologies, the controversy remains a significant issue, reflecting the sensitivity of communal and gender-related discourse in India’s political and social landscape. The Supreme Court’s involvement signals the seriousness with which such matters are being addressed at the highest levels.
Also Read: MP HC orders FIR against BJP Min Shah over Col Qureshi jibe
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