The Supreme Court of India has come down heavily on Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah for his controversial comments targeting Indian Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. Chief Justice of India BR Gavai described the minister’s remarks as “unacceptable and insensitive”, urging him to uphold the dignity expected from someone holding a constitutional position.
During a hearing on Thursday, the Chief Justice bluntly asked, “What sort of comments are you making? You should show some sense of sensibility. Go and apologise in High Court.”
The court also refused to stay the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s order to initiate criminal proceedings against Shah, rejecting his plea for interim protection from arrest. “Nothing will happen to you in a day. You know who you are,” the bench observed.
Remarks spark legal action and public outrage
Vijay Shah, who serves as the Tribal Welfare Minister in the Madhya Pradesh government, made the contentious statement on May 12 during a public address in Raikunda village near Indore. Referring to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, Shah’s remarks allegedly implied that Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, a senior officer involved in Operation Sindoor, was used as a symbol of retaliation.
Without directly naming her, Shah said, “They made our sisters widows, so Modi ji sent a sister of their community to strip them and teach them a lesson.” He added, “They undressed our Hindu brothers before killing them. We responded by sending their own sister to hit them in their houses.”
These comments have been criticised widely by opposition leaders, military veterans, and even members within the ruling BJP. Many have accused Shah of making communal and gender-insensitive statements.
High Court orders FIR, warns of contempt
Responding to the controversy, the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Jabalpur promptly ordered the state’s Director General of Police to register an FIR against Shah by the evening of the same day. The court also warned that any delay in action could lead to contempt proceedings.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi has gained national attention for her key role in Operation Sindoor and is often seen at official press briefings alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.
As of now, the matter continues to attract national scrutiny, with the judiciary clearly signalling zero tolerance for derogatory or inflammatory speech, particularly from public representatives.