Bhopal:
A Madhya Pradesh minister has provoked a political storm with a comment seen in the context of Army Colonel Sophia Qureshi, one of the officers who led the government briefing on Operation Sindoor. A woman from a community similar to the people in Pakistan, the minister said, was sent to naked the country.
Senior Congress members, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, insulted the BJP leader’s remarks and insulted the armed forces and women and demanded that they be dismissed. The minister then issued an explanation and said that his comment was excluded from the context.
For the purpose of promoting in a cultural program in MHOW ‘Halma’ – A traditional Bhil tribal practice of community cooperation and voluntary labor – On Tuesday, Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah said in Hindi, “There should be there. ‘Halma’ In every hut and in every head. ‘Halma’ Staying for others means living for society, like Prime Minister Narendra Modi is doing it. He (referring to Pakistan) snatched the vermilion of our sisters and daughters, and we sent our sister to give them back. ,
“They ignored the Hindus and killed them, and Modi ji sent his sister to return the favor. We could not ignore them, so we sent a daughter from their community … You made the sisters of our community widowed, so a sister of your community will nude you. Modiji proved that your caste daughters can be sent to take revenge.
On the stage, the audience, including several BJP leaders, responded loudly with applause. The attendees included Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur, MLA and former Cabinet Minister Usha Thakur, and representatives of local panchayats and municipal bodies.
Mr. Shah also praised PM Modi for bringing the Russian S-400 mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, which has played an important role in closing the waves of drones and missiles fired by Pakistan after India’s accurate attacks on terrorist bases in response to the Pahgam terror attack.
‘Army officers have no religion’
Congress President Mallikrajun Kharge slammed the minister about Colonel Sophia Qureshi for “derogatory, embarrassing and porn” comment and demanded that Prime Minister Modi immediately dismissed him.
Mr. Kharge pointed out the trolling of the wife of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and his daughter as well as Himanshi Narwal-26-year-old Navy officer Vinay Narwal, who was killed in the Pahalgam terror attack-people were requested not to target Muslims or Kashmiris for their remarks.
A minister of BJP’s Madhya Pradesh government has made a very derogatory, embarrassing and petty comment about our brave daughter Colonel Sophia Qureshi.
The terrorists of Pahalgam wanted to divide the country, but the country was united during the entire ‘Operation Sindoor’ in giving a befitting reply to the terrorists.
BJP-Rss’s…
– Mallikarjun kharge (@kharge) May 13, 2025
Mr. Kharge wrote in Hindi on X, “The terrorists of Pahgam wanted to divide the country, but the country was united in ‘Operation Sindoor’, which was in responding to the terrorists.”
“The mentality of the BJP-RSS has always been anti-women. First, she trolled the wife of the naval officer who was martyred in Pahgam on social media, then harassed the daughter of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and now BJP minister is making such indecent remarks about our brave Sophia Kursi. Modi ji said.
Echoing the Leader of the Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Shri Kharge, Umang Sir said: “The statement about a senior army officer by Minister Vijay Shah is not only embarrassing, but also an insult to both armed forces and women. An army officer or a soldier is not related to any religion. They are not as Hindus or Muslims.
He said, “This type of language reflects the mentality of the BJP. This statement is highly condemnable, and I strongly condemn it. Vijay Shah should immediately apologize,” he said.
Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari also hit the BJP on Mr. Shah’s remarks and demanded that he be dismissed.
“BJP should immediately clarify – does it support Vijay Shah’s unique mindset?” @DRMOHANYADAV51: Answer people! @Narendramodi: Smit the minister! “Shri Patwari wrote in Hindi on X.
Facing backlash after the video went viral, the minister said that some people are interpreting his speech incorrectly.
“The Prime Minister has responded to those who have tried to erase the vermilion of our sisters in their language. My speech should not be seen out of the context. Some people are interpreting it differently. They are our sisters and have worked with the army with full force,” said Mr. Shah.
