Congress workers have staged protests in several cities, including Indore, Bhopal, Badnawar, and Khandwa, in response to controversial remarks made by BJP Minister Vijay Shah against Indian Army spokesperson Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, a senior Muslim female officer. Protesters defaced Shah’s nameplates with ink and burned his effigies, chanting slogans such as “Modi Muradabad” and “Vijay Shah Muradabad.”
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Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the minister’s comments, describing them as reflecting the “anti-women mindset” of the BJP and RSS. He demanded Shah’s immediate dismissal, calling the remarks sectarian, indecent, and a threat to national security.
Facing mounting criticism and after being summoned by BJP leadership, Vijay Shah issued an apology, claiming his remarks were taken out of context and stating he held Colonel Qureshi in high regard. He said, “If my statement hurt anyone, I am ready to apologise ten times over.” However, the apology did little to ease public outrage.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Vijay Shah within four hours, stating his remarks insult not only Colonel Qureshi but also the Indian Army and could incite communal disharmony.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi has served in the Indian Army’s Signals Corps since 1999. She gained national recognition during Operation Sindoor for her media briefings and, in 2016, became the first Indian female officer to lead a multinational military exercise.
