MP minister tenders apology over remarks against Col Sofiya Qureshi

Indore: After drawing widespread criticism over a video that shows Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah making an indecent remark against Col Sofiya Quereshi, who has become the face of armed forces briefing the nation about operation Sindoor undertaken against Pakistan's terror network, he tendered an apology while talking to reporters on Tuesday evening.

A video of Shah went viral on social media platforms on Tuesday in which he is seen referring to the Pahalgam attack by Pakistan-based terrorists and Operation Sindoor launched by the Indian armed forces against terror launchpads in Pakistan in which he made indecent and objectionable remarks against the woman army officer. He made the comments during a 'Halma' programme— a tradition to volunteer for environmental work—held in Raikunda village in Dr Ambedkar Nagar (Mhow) on Monday.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge reacted to Shah's remarks and wrote on X (Twitter), "A BJP minister of Madhya Pradesh has made a very insulting, shameful, and cheap comment about our brave daughter…. 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. The mentality of BJP-RSS has always been anti-women." He asked PM Narendra Modi to remove the minister from his post.

MP Congress Committee chief Jitu Patwari also slammed the minister over his remarks and said, "The cabinet minister Vijay Shah has uttered absurd words against our daughters, who jolted Pakistani forces. He used such cheap words for our daughters…… Mohan Yadavji should clarify if his entire cabinet and BJP agree with Shah's remarks, and if not, Vijay Shah should be immediately removed from the post."

"I will write to the Prime Minister, the defence minister, BJP national and state president, and MP CM to clarify their stand on Shah's remarks," he said.

Apart from Congress leaders of Madhya Pradesh, Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi took to X (Twitter) to slam the minister over his remarks. The MP wrote, "The person who made this absurd and communal statement is not an ordinary man but a minister of the MP govt. He thinks that (the Indian Army official) is the sister of the terrorists, who killed innocent people in Pahalgam. This person has insulted the country's army. The Prime Minister is requested to immediately remove this person from the post of minister, and BJP chief JP Nadda should clarify whether this person's statement is the statement of Bharatiya Janata Party?"

As he came under attack, Shah told a news channel that his statements were ‘misinterpreted'. "The Prime Minister has responded to those who left our sisters widowed in their own language. Do not view my speech in a different context. Some people are misinterpreting it. They are our sisters, and they have worked with the army with full strength," he said.

In his apology Shah claimed that he and his family were ‘distressed' by the Pahalgam attack. "My family has a military background, and several members have been martyred, including during Kargil war. While making a speech with such a saddened heart, if some objectionable sentences were uttered by me, I am ready to apologise 10 times," he said.

"Sofiya sister, who rose above religion and served the country, has more respect in my heart than my real sister. I salute the military and Sofiya sister. If the society and religion is hurt by my statements, I am ready to apologise," Shah told reporters.