- Tuesday, May 13, 2025
The minister remarked that prime minister had sent a “sister from the same community” as the terrorists to avenge the April 22 terror strike in Kashmir’s Pahalgam
By: India Weekly
A MADHYA PRADESH state minister has landed himself in a controversy for his rabidly communal remarks about Colonel Sofia Qureshi, a distinguished soldier chosen by the Indian army to brief the nation about Operation Sindoor.
At a government function in Manpur town near Mhow, the tribal welfare minister, Kunwar Vijay Shah, said the prime minister had sent a “sister from the same community” as those in Pakistan to avenge the April 22 terror strike in Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
“Jinhone humari betiyon ke sindoor ujade the… humne unhiki behen bhej kar ke unki aisi ki taisi karwayi (those who wiped sindoor (vermilion) off our daughters’ forehead… we sent their sister to teach them a lesson)’.”
Qureshi was not part of India’s military offensive against the terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
She and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh were briefing the media in New Delhi along with foreign secretary Vikram Misri.
Boils my blood.
Who is this disgusting minister?
How dare he call ‘unke samaaj ki mahila’. Is desh ki beti hai woh jahil.
If he isn’t removed from the party for this speech, then it’s clear that this is exactly what the party stands for.
pic.twitter.com/mLFlNDp7sA— Rakhi Tripathi (@rakhitripathi) May 13, 2025
The presence of two women military officers had created a buzz on social media and many saw it as a sign of ‘nari shakti’ (women’s power).
The Congress on Tuesday (13) slammed the BJP over the minister’s objectionable remarks and demanded his resignation.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said Vijay Shah has made “extremely insulting, shameful and vulgar remarks” about Colonel 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,” Kharge said.
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“The mentality of the BJP-RSS has always been anti-women. First, they trolled the wife of the naval officer martyred in Pahalgam on social media, then harassed the daughter of foreign secretary Vikram Misri, and now BJP ministers are making such indecent comments about our braveheart Sofiya Qureshi,” the Congress chief said.
“Modi ji should immediately dismiss such a minister,” he added.
Reacting to the purported remarks, the Congress’ media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said in a post on X, “Completely unpardonable. These pseudo-nationalists have no respect for our brave armed forces.”
He also asked if the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and BJP chief JP Nadda would take action against the minister.
Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed also lashed out at the BJP, saying, “BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh and close aide of Narendra Modi, Vijay Shah, is calling Col Sofiya Qureshi the ‘sister of Pahalgam terrorists’. A highly decorated officer is being insulted only because of her religion. When will you take action on him Narendra Modi!”
Shah later claimed his remarks were being twisted by some people.
“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. She (Qureshi) is a sister who has enhanced our prestige, it should not be seen in any other context. We respect her and will continue to do so,” he said.
