New Delhi
The Supreme Court on Thursday came down hard on Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah for his controversial remarks directed at Col Sofiya Qureshi, one of the faces of Operation Sindoor. At a public event, Shah had called Colonel Sofiya Qureshi a “sister of terrorists”.
Presiding over a two-judge bench, Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, said: “A person holding such a public office is expected to uphold certain standards. Every sentence uttered by a minister has to be with responsibility. Such a person holding a constitutional office should be responsible. When this country is going through such a situation… just because you are a minister…”
Shah approached the Supreme Court challenging the May 14 order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which directed the registration of an FIR against him.
The apex court refused immediate intervention in the matter but finally agreed to hear it on Friday on the insistence of Shah’s counsel senior advocate Vibha Datta Makhija, who contended that Shah Makhija said Shah had apologised for the remarks.
The SC said, “Go and apologise to the High Court. Nothing will happen to you in a day. You know who you are.”
The bench was informed that the FIR has already been registered. Makhija stressed that Shah has recorded his apology and the statement was widely misunderstood. She added that the media has taken the statement out of context.
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.”
His remarks have drawn widespread criticism and condemnation with demands being made for his immediate sacking from the Mohan Yadav government.
