The Madhya Pradesh High Court has suo motu ordered the registration of an FIR against Tribal Affairs Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah, a senior BJP leader, for his derogatory remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, a decorated Indian Army officer who played a public role during India’s Operation Sindoor.
Shah stirred massive controversy after referring to Col Qureshi as a “sister of terrorists”, prompting condemnation from across the political spectrum. The court observed that prima facie offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) were evident in his comments, warranting police investigation.
The incident escalated after viral videos showed Shah making inflammatory remarks,“Those who wiped the vermilion off our daughters’ foreheads… we sent their sister to teach them a lesson.”
“Since Modi ji could not remove their clothes, he sent a sister of their community to strip them naked,” Shah was recorded saying.
These remarks were interpreted as communal, misogynistic, and disrespectful to women in uniform, especially in the context of Colonel Qureshi’s role in briefing the media on India’s strong military response following the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) condemned the remarks as “extremely unfortunate” and an insult to all women serving the nation. NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar called for respect for women in uniform, describing Col Qureshi as a “proud daughter of the nation.”
After intense public backlash, Shah issued a statement of clarification and later apologized, saying,”If my words have hurt society and religion, I am ready to apologise ten times.”
The Congress party was quick to demand his immediate dismissal, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge branding the remarks as shameful and vulgar, and a direct insult to the Indian Armed Forces. Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari filed a formal complaint, asking why the BJP remained silent on such a grave issue.
Umang Singhar, Leader of Opposition in MP, reiterated that army officers have no religion, stating,”If my words have hurt society and religion, I am ready to apologise ten times.”
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi served alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh in the tri-services press team for Operation Sindoor, showcasing India’s unified stance against terrorism.
The FIR marks a rare judicial intervention in a politically sensitive matter, signaling zero tolerance for hate speech, especially against the armed forces and women officers.
