Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah is in trouble after the state High Court directed a police case against him for inflammatory comments against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, a decorated Indian Army officer. The comments, which were communal and derogatory, could put Shah behind bars for seven years under India’s strict laws against inciting enmity and causing harm to national unity.
The row broke out on May 12 at a public function close to Indore, where Shah, a top BJP leader, mentioned Colonel Qureshi while extolling India’s Operation Sindoor, a military operation against terror camps in Pakistan after the April 22 Pahalgam attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians. Qureshi, who led the briefing along with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, was indirectly referred to as the “sister of terrorists” in Shah’s address, a comment the court criticised as “the language of the gutters.” The remark, which was repeated three times by Shah, was incensed with its communal tone, considering Qureshi is a Muslim.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court, on its motion after the comments went viral, directed police to register a First Information Report (FIR) by 6 p.m. on May 14 for violating the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 152, which entails a possible life sentence for actions endangering India’s sovereignty. Justice Atul Sreedharan’s bench cautioned against contempt proceedings if the deadline was not met, underlining that Shah’s remarks insulted Qureshi and the armed forces’ integrity. The court reminded Qureshi of her outstanding service, including being the first woman to command a multinational military exercise in 2016.
Public outcry was instant. Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, called for Shah’s immediate removal, terming his remarks “shameful and vulgar.”. Protests broke out in Bhopal, with Congress workers blackening the nameplate of Shah’s residence and burning his effigy, celebrating Qureshi as “India’s tigress”. The National Commission for Women criticised the remarks as an insult to women in uniform. At the same time, senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai called them “utterly sexist” on social media. Posts on X reflected nationwide anger, with users praising the court’s swift action.
Shah, an eight-term legislator with a history of controversial statements, backtracked on May 13, claiming his words were misinterpreted. “Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is more respected than my sister,” he told reporters, offering to apologise “ten times” if his remarks offended. He attributed the outburst to distress over the Pahalgam attack, noting his family’s military background. The BJP distanced itself from the statement and called Shah to reprimand him, as state president V.D. Sharma referred to Qureshi as “a daughter of the nation”. However, the party has not specified whether action, including Shah’s expulsion, is on the cards.
The case reopened political rhetoric debates in India, particularly at a time of heightened tensions with Pakistan. Qureshi, an icon of national pride for her work on Operation Sindoor briefings, did not comment publicly. As the FIR proceeds, Shah’s political future remains uncertain, with analysts envisioning severe fallout for the BJP in Madhya Pradesh if the minister’s legal woes deepen.