New Delhi
The Supreme Court on Monday (May 19) rejected the apology by Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah and ordered a probe against him by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) over his controversial remarks against Col Sofiya Qureshi — the face of India’s press briefings on ‘Operation Sindoor’.
“We are constituting an SIT with three IPS officers and one should be of the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP). All of them should be from outside the state. It’s a litmus test and we want the state to submit the SIT report to us. We would like to have a very close watch,” a Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh ordered. It directed the Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police to constitute the SIT by 10 am on Tuesday. The court also asserted that one of the members of the investigative team should be a woman.
The Bench, however, stayed Shah’s arrest and ordered him to join the probe even as it also issued notice to the state of Madhya Pradesh on his petition challenging the high court’s order for registration of an FIR against him. The Bench posted the matter for May 28.
Noting that there was no sincere attempt on the part of the petitioner to apologize, the Bench remarked, “The kind of crass comments you made, completely thoughtlessly. What prevented you from making a sincere attempt? We don’t require your apology. We know how to deal with as per the law. Entire nation is ashamed of you. Meanwhile, you think how you will redeem yourself.”
“You (Shah) are a public figure, a seasoned politician. You should weigh your words when you speak. Should we display your video here? People are not reporting because, unfortunately, media people only pick up two words from you. They are not really going into depth of your video. You were at the verge of using very abusive language. Then you stop because you couldn’t find any alternate word. When we watch your video, you were at a particular stage going to use very filthy language further. But either some sense prevailed upon you, or you couldn’t find that word,” the SC said adding “this is an important issue for the Armed Forces. We need to be very responsible”.
With senior counsel Maninder Singh submitting on behalf of Shah that the Minister has publicly apologised for his remarks, the Bench shot back: “What kind of apology? What’s that apology? Sometimes people apologise to wriggle out of legal liabilities. Sometimes crocodile tears. What kind of apology is yours?”
“What prevented you from making a sincere attempt? We don’t require your apology. We know how to deal with it as per the law. Your apology, we are not ready to accept. It’s only to wriggle out of legal liability. We have rejected your apology. You have said ‘if somebody is hurt…’. You are not even ready to take responsibility,” Justice Kant said, rejecting Shah’s apology.
It also questioned the state of Madhya Pradesh for not doing enough in the matter. “People expect the state action will be fair… The High Court has done its duty, they thought suo motu action was needed. You (State of Madhya Pradesh) should have done something more by now,” the Bench noted.
The Supreme Court had on May 16 scheduled a hearing for May 19 on Shah’s plea. He moved the apex court challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court order directing the registration of an FIR against him over his “disparaging and dangerous” remarks made against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. The SC had rebuked the Minister and BJP leader for his irresponsible statements.
In Bhopal, the Congress continued to press for his dismissal from the Mohan Yadav Cabinet.
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.”
