'Ready to apologise 10 times over': MP minister after ‘terrorists’ sister’ remark at Sofiya Qureshi

Madhya Pradesh Minister and BJP leader Vijay Shah has sparked a major controversy with objectionable comments that appeared to be directed at Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, whom he tried to project as a "sister of terrorists."

Shah, who holds the Tribal Welfare and Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation portfolios in Madhya Pradesh, made the remarks on Monday (May 12) at an event in Mhow.

After facing backlash for his comments, Shah expressed his remorse and said that if anyone is hurt by his statement, he is ready to apologise ten times over, adding that he respects Colonel Qureshi more than his sister.

Also read: How Col Sofiya Qureshi's feats led to a landmark SC verdict on women officers

The Congress, on the other hand, has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack Shah from the Madhya Pradesh cabinet.

'Sister of terrorists'

Colonel Qureshi has been conducting regular press briefings, sharing details of Operation Sindoor, launched by Indian armed forces to strike terrorists, along with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.

In his bid to explain that the government chose a Muslim woman officer to brief the media on the operation, Shah, in his speech, ended up calling Qureshi a "sister" of terrorists.

"Those people (terrorists) who had wiped out the sindoor (vermilion) of our sisters (in the Pahalgam terror attack)..We avenged these 'kate-pite' people by sending their sister to destroy them," Shah said.

"They (terrorists) killed our Hindu brothers by making them remove their clothes. PM Modi ji responded by sending their (terrorists') sister in an Army plane to strike them in their houses. They (terrorists) made our sisters widows, so Modiji sent the sister of their community to strip them and teach them a lesson," the BJP leader said while addressing a gathering in the Ramkunda village near Indore.

Also read: What Op Sindoor marked in warfare: More power to airforce, zero boots on ground

He said, "Revenge was taken for the honour of our country (India), respect, and for the (slain) husbands of our sisters by sending a sister from your (terrorists') community to Pakistan".

The Madhya Pradesh tribal welfare minister reemphasised that his remarks on Colonel Qureshi should not be construed as hateful.

Minister apologises

Shah's remarks drew widespread condemnation, with the Congress demanding his immediate dismissal from the MP cabinet.

Speaking to reporters, Shah sought to attribute the intemperate remarks to his "disturbed" state of mind in view of the brutal killing of innocent people in Pahalgam by terrorists.

Also read: India's fearless women in uniform: Meet Col Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh

He claimed many members of his family have a military background and many were martyred.

"Sister Sophia has brought glory to India by rising above caste and religion. She is more respected than our own sister. I salute her for her service to the nation. We cannot even think of insulting her in our dreams. Still, if my words have hurt society and religion, then I am ready to apologise ten times,'' he added.

Congress calls for dismissal

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said Shah, who made 'derogatory' remarks against Qureshi, should be dismissed immediately.

"A minister of the BJP government of Madhya Pradesh has made a very derogatory, shameful and cheap remark about our brave daughter Colonel Sofia Qureshi. The terrorists of Pahalgam wanted to divide the country, but the country was united during the entire 'Operation Sindoor' to give a befitting reply to the terrorists," Kharge said in a post on X.

Also read: Op Sindoor: Who are Vikram Misri, Sofiya Qureshi, Vyomika Singh, who briefed media?

'Attack on dignity of Indian women'

"First, the wife of the naval officer martyred in Pahalgam was trolled on social media, then the daughter of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was harassed, and now the BJP ministers are making such indecent comments about our brave woman Sophia Qureshi," Kharge said and appealed to Prime Minister Modi to immediately sack Shah.

Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari shared the video of Shah on X and asked whether the BJP agrees with the minister's "low thinking".

Also read: When officials possess 'common sense' and play 'catch me if you can' with media

The MP Congress Committee alleged that Shah's "indecent' and hate-filled" statement is not just a personal attack, but an open attack on India's military dignity, national unity, and women's honour.

Minister reprimanded

Congress leader Manoj Shukla and the party workers have also reacted by blackening the nameplate of Shah at his bungalow and raising slogans seeking his resignation from the ministerial post.

Amid the raging controversy, the BJP's Madhya Pradesh general secretary Hitanand Sharma summoned Shah to the state headquarters in Bhopal, where according to sources, Sharma reprimanded the minister, who also met the state BJP president, Vishnu Dutt Sharma.