Bhopal
Infamous for his controversial remarks earlier, Madhya Pradesh’s Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah has stoked yet another controversy as he made some “dangerous and disparaging” remarks against Col Sofiya Qureshi, who along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh became the face of Operation Sindoor. The duo used to join Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to brief the media on Operation Sindoor.
The Jabalpur High Court bench took suo motu cognizance of Shah’s remarks on Tuesday about Colonel Sofiya Qureshi that sparked widespread outrage and political backlash. It ordered an FIR against Shah in four hours. Shah has since smilingly tendered an apology.
In a late night development, an FIR was registered against Shah in Indore district. In a post on X, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said instructions were given to take action against Tribal Welfare Minister Shah following the orders of the HC.
The bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Anuradha Shukla lashed out at Shah for using “gutter language” against the senior Indian Army officer and termed his remarks as “dangerous”, “disparaging” and “communal” in nature. The bench said they were also prima facie offences under two stringent sections of Indian law.
“This court is, prima facie, satisfied that the first offence made out against the minister was under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita,” the judges said. The section deals with acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India and is punishable by life term in jail. The court also held that Section 196 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with promoting enmity between communities and disturbing public harmony, also applied.
The Bench expressed concern that such a statement “encourages feelings of separatist activities by imputing separatist feeling to anyone who is Muslim,” thereby violating the constitutional spirit of unity and fraternity.
The Court said: “The armed forces, perhaps the last institution existing in this country, reflecting integrity, industry, discipline, sacrifice, selflessness, character, honour and indomitable courage… has been targeted by Vijay Shah who has used the language of the gutters against Col. Sofia Quraishi.”
There could be no doubt about who the Minister was referring to, the court said.
What The Minister Said: Speaking at a cultural event in Mhow, Shah had remarked: “They stripped Hindus and killed them, and Modiji sent their sister to return the favour. We couldn’t undress them, so we sent a daughter from their community. You widowed sisters of our community, so a sister of your community will strip you naked. Modiji proved that the daughters of your caste can be sent to Pakistan to take revenge.”
Incidentally, he made the comments in the presence of Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur, MLA and former Cabinet minister Usha Thakur, and several local leaders of the BJP.
Army veterans and Opposition parties condemned his remarks and sought action against him by the BJP. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge called for his sacking. Interestingly, former Chief Minister Uma Bharati also took to X to demand action against Shah. “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,” she posted.
Shah initially said his comments were reported out of context and offered to apologise later saying: “Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is more important than my sister to me because she rose above caste and community and took revenge. I did not intend any offence. Still, if anyone felt bad, I apologise not once but ten times.” However, the smile he unleashed thereafter undid the seriousness of his apology.
This is not the first time that Shah is in the news for all the wrong reasons. He had earlier too stirred controversies with his statements against those like Congress leader Rahul Gandhi or been in the news for reportedly getting halted the shooting of a film starring Vidya Balan after she refused to have dinner with him.
