Bhopal: An unsavoury remark by Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah, purportedly aimed toward Military Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, triggered a political controversy Tuesday with the Congress demanding his resignation. Qureshi, together with IAF Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, was the face of India’s press briefings on Operation Sindoor.
Later within the day, Shah was additionally summoned by Madhya Pradesh BJP president V.D. Sharma who, it’s learnt, suggested him to chorus from making such controversial remarks.
Shah is an eight-time Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP) MLA who has represented Harsud (ST) meeting seat in Khandwa district since 1990. He has been part of the council of ministers in Madhya Pradesh since 2003.
Addressing a authorities perform Tuesday in Manpur in Mhow tehsil of Indore district, Shah mentioned, “Har jhopde aur har khopde mein halma hona chahiye. Halma matlab doosre ke liye jeena, samaj ke liye jeena. Jaise ki hamare Modi ji, jo dusre ke liye jeete thee, samaj ke liye jeete thee. Jin emblem ne hamare behno ke sindoor ujaade hai, un kaate-peete emblem ko unhi ke behen ko bhej ke unse aisi ki taisi karwai.”
(In each hut and head, there needs to be halma. Halma means to reside for others, to reside for society. Identical to our Modi ji who lives for others and the society. Those that had snatched the sindoor of our daughters, their sister was despatched to show them a lesson.)
Calling for Shah to be dismissed, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote on X that the minister made “very insulting, shameful and petty feedback about our courageous daughter, Colonel Sofia Qureshi”.
“Pahalgam terrorists wished to divide the nation however the whole nation was united in giving a befitting lesson to these terrorists throughout Operation Sindoor. BJP-RSS’s mindset is anti-women. First, the martyred naval officer’s spouse was trolled on social media. Then International Secretary Vikram Misri’s daughter was harassed (by on-line abusers). Now the BJP minister is making such indecent feedback about our courageous Sofia Qureshi. Modi ji ought to instantly sack such a minister,” wrote Kharge.
भाजपा की मध्य प्रदेश सरकार के एक मंत्री ने हमारी वीर बेटी कर्नल सोफिया क़ुरैशी के बारे में बेहद अपमानजनक, शर्मनाक और ओछी टिप्पणी की है।
पहलगाम के आतंकी देश को बाँटना चाहते थे, पर आतंकवादियों को मुंहतोड़ जवाब देने में पूरे ‘ऑपरेशन सिंदूर’ के दौरान देश एकजुट था।
BJP-RSS की…
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) May 13, 2025
In his speech earlier within the day, Vijay Shah had given the instance of how Indians rallied behind Operation Sindoor, which was a response to the Pahalgam terror assault, to clarify the idea of halma—a standard apply amongst Bhil tribes. Beneath this idea, members of the neighborhood be part of palms to attain a standard goal, like digging up a pond.
The minister additionally mentioned that the terrorists who stripped and singled out Hindu males earlier than killing them at Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam on 22 April, “Modi ji couldn’t go and strip them bare, so he despatched their sister. That you’ve made our sisters into widows, so your sister from the identical neighborhood will barge into your own home and strip them bare and kill them.”
Praising the Prime Minister, he added, “Modi ji mentioned he would bury these individuals within the floor. Terrorists had been sitting of their properties and so they had been destroyed. This solely a person with a 56-inch chest can do. We’re proud that Narendra Modi is our Prime Minister and we’re protected.”
Reacting to Shah’s remarks, Chief of the Opposition within the Madhya Pradesh Meeting Umang Singhar mentioned the remarks had been “not solely embarrassing but in addition an insult to ladies and the armed forces”.
“Be it an officer or a sepoy of the Military, they shouldn’t be recognized for his or her faith. They shouldn’t be seen by the prism of their faith, be it Hindu or Muslim,” mentioned Singhar, the Congress MLA from Gandhwani.
Shah later claimed his remarks had been misconstrued. “Some individuals are taking my assertion in a special context. I didn’t imply it that manner. She (Qureshi) is my sister and he or she has avenged the acts of the terrorists.”
The BJP chief is not any stranger to controversy. In 2013, he was made to resign as a minister for remarks he made about then chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s spouse. Shah, nonetheless, was later reinstated as a minister.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
Additionally Learn: Pahalgam justice isn’t about deaths or strikes. It’s in 2 ladies, 2 uniforms, 2 identities
