MP High Court Orders FIR against BJP Minister for Derogatory Remarks on Woman Army Officer
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, May 14: Amidst condemnation from various quarters, the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday suo motu directed registration of First Information Report (FIR) against the Tribal Affairs minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for his “derogatory, communal and sexist comments” on Colonel Sophia Qureshi, the army officer who was part of the media briefings during India’s “Operation Sindoor.”
The High Court said prima facie offences under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) were made out against Shah for referring to Col Qureshi as “sister of terrorists.” Soon afterwards, the state Congress chief Jitu Patwari filed a complaint against Shah. “A minister from Madhya Pradesh insulted the officers of the army and our sisters. Why is the BJP silent on this?” he told reporters.
Colonel Qureshi and another officer, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, have been the face of the army during the media conferences on Operation Sindoor. Both have frequently joined Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri during the briefings.
On Tuesday, Mr Shah, the Tribal Affairs Minister of Madhya Pradesh, speaking at a cultural event in Mhow, said, the terrorists had “wiped the sindoor of our sisters and daughters, and we sent their own sister to give it back to them in kind.”
“They stripped Hindus and killed them, and Modi-ji 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. Modi-ji proved that the daughters of your caste can be sent to Pakistan to take revenge,” the minister had added.
His comments were made before an audience that included Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur, MLA and former Cabinet minister Usha Thakur, and several local leaders of the BJP who all applauded his comments while it evoked a wave of condemnation across the country including the army veterans and the Opposition parties. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge called for his sacking.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has strongly condemned the purported derogatory remarks made against Colonel Qureshi, calling for respect for women in uniform, without naming anybody. The NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar said, “It is extremely unfortunate that such statements are being made by some responsible persons which are derogatory and unacceptable towards women.
“This not only hurts the dignity of women in our society but is also an insult to the daughters of the nation who are playing an important role in the security of the country.” “Dear Colonel Sophia Qureshi is a proud daughter of this nation, a sister of all country-loving Indians, who has served the country with courage and dedication,” she added.
After a massive backlash online, Vijay Shah clarified his remarks. He initially said his comments were reported out of context, then offered to apologise. “We respect the actions taken by the Indian forces that avenged the Pahalgam terror attack in which the vermilion was wiped off the forehead of our sisters. I don’t want to say anything to those who are twisting my remarks,” he said.
“Colonel Sophia Qureshi is more important than my sister to me because she rose above caste and community and took revenge. I did not intend any offence. Still, if anyone felt bad, If my words have hurt society and religion, I apologise not once but ten times,” he had said.
The BJP leader’s remarks were severely criticised by the Congress, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who deemed it as an insult to the Indian Armed Forces and demanded the saffron party to sack Shah with immediate effect.
“A minister of the BJP government of Madhya Pradesh has made extremely insulting, shameful and vulgar remarks about our brave daughter Colonel Sophia Qureshi. The terrorists of Pahalgam wanted to divide the country, but the country was united throughout ‘Operation Sindoor’ in giving a befitting reply to the terrorists,” said Kharge on X.
Umang Singhar, the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, said Army officers had no religion and were not identified as Hindu or Muslim. “Minister Vijay Shah’s statement on the top army officer is not only shameful but it is an insult to both the army and women. Be it an army officer or a soldier, he has no religion, he is not counted as Hindu or Muslim. They have only one religion – country,” he said.
Amid the row the state BJP president V.D. Sharma on Wednesday said the party had taken note of Mr Shah’s remarks and had warned him about the matter. He emphasised that the party leadership was very sensitive and no one has the right to say anything.
“The leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party is very sensitive. If any such incident happens, then the BJP immediately holds a proper discussion which is required on the issue. Our leadership took cognisance of the matter and he was immediately warned about the matter. No one has the right to say anything, that sister (Colonel Sophia Qureshi) is the daughter of the country and the entire nation salutes the might she has done,” Mr Sharma told reporters. However, Mr Sharma maintained silence when asked about action against the Minister for the remarks.
