Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda has ignited a fresh political controversy with his comments on the Indian Army, made during a civil defense volunteers’ training program held in Jabalpur. Devda’s statement, in which he claimed that “the entire nation, including the Indian Army and soldiers, is bowing at the feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” has drawn sharp criticism from political opponents and civil society alike.
The controversial remarks came as Devda praised Prime Minister Modi for what he described as a decisive and strong response to the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack. “Not just the country, but the entire military is also bowing at Modi’s feet for his strong stance against terrorism,” he declared, urging applause from the audience in support of the Prime Minister. He further added that no amount of admiration for Modi’s leadership in the fight against terror groups was sufficient, attributing India’s military resolve to the PM’s command.
Devda also made graphic references to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, alleging that the terrorists deliberately targeted tourists based on religion. “In Pahalgam, the terrorists asked tourists their religion before shooting them in front of their families. Women were separated, and men were executed before the eyes of their children and relatives,” he stated. He emphasized that such brutality demanded a strong response and pledged that the country would not rest until every terrorist and their supporters were eliminated.
The remarks have triggered outrage from opposition leaders, with Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra condemning the statement as “extremely shameful and unfortunate.” In a strongly worded post on social media platform X, Vadra said, “First, a minister in Madhya Pradesh made offensive remarks about women soldiers, and now the deputy chief minister has insulted our armed forces. The entire nation is proud of the valor of our soldiers, but BJP leaders are consistently disrespecting them. Instead of taking action against such leaders, the BJP is trying to shield them. What message is the party trying to send to our soldiers and the people of this country?”
The controversy follows closely on the heels of a previous incident involving state minister Vijay Shah, who faced backlash for derogatory remarks about Colonel Sofia Qureshi, a decorated officer in the Indian Army. With two such incidents in quick succession, questions are being raised about the BJP’s internal disciplinary mechanisms and the messaging of its leaders.
While the BJP has yet to issue an official statement regarding Devda’s comments, political analysts warn that such rhetoric risks politicizing the armed forces and could alienate a segment of the electorate that holds the military in high regard. The controversy also emerges at a sensitive time, as the nation continues to mourn the victims of the Pahalgam attack and debates national security policy in the wake of Operation Sindoor.
