Madhya Pradesh HC Orders FIR Against BJP Minister for Remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi

Madhya Pradesh High Court directs FIR against BJP minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for making derogatory remarks about Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.;

By :  Amit Singh
Update: 2025-05-14 15:34 GMT
Madhya Pradesh HC Orders FIR Against BJP Minister for Remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi
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The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday ordered police to register an FIR against BJP minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for making derogatory remarks about Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, a senior Army officer who played a key role in briefing the media during Operation Sindoor.

The court set a strict deadline for the state’s Director General of Police, directing that the FIR be filed by 6 p.m. the same day. If not, the court warned it would initiate proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act.

During the hearing, the minister's legal team argued that the case was built solely on media reports. But the judge, Justice Atul Sreedharan, wasn’t convinced. He said the court would now place video footage of the remarks on record as evidence. Emphasizing the urgency and seriousness of the matter, when the Advocate General asked for more time, the judge replied, “I may not be alive tomorrow,”

The court also noted that Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)—which deals with actions or speech promoting enmity between different groups based on religion—appeared to apply in this case.

Controversial Comment Sparks Backlash

The controversy began with a comment BJP minister Vijay Shah made on Monday. Referring to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, he said, “Those who widowed our daughters, we sent a sister of their own to teach them a lesson.” The statement sparked immediate backlash, not just from the opposition and women’s rights groups, but also from voices within his own party, many calling it deeply offensive and inappropriate.

By Tuesday, facing mounting criticism, Shah issued a public apology. But the damage was done. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called the minister’s statement “shameful and vulgar,” while the National Commission for Women condemned the comment as an insult to women serving in uniform.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, had been among the key officials briefing the press during Operation Sindoor. Her visibility as a senior Army officer has been widely praised, making Shah’s remark all the more controversial.

NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar didn’t name Shah directly but said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), “It is extremely unfortunate that such statements are being made by responsible people. These remarks not only hurt the dignity of women but insult the daughters of this nation who are defending our country.”

The incident has ignited a political firestorm in Madhya Pradesh, raising serious questions about the treatment of women in public life—and the need for greater accountability among elected leaders.

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