BJP minister calls Col Sofiya terrorists' sister, sparks row

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed law enforcement authorities to register a First Information Report (FIR) against Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah following his controversial remarks concerning Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.

- Indo-Asian News Service

Addressing a public gathering during a government function in Mhow (Indore district) on Monday, Shah praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership in responding to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

However, while doing so, he made a comment that has drawn sharp criticism.

Talking about Operation Sindoor, Shah said that PM Modi had sent a “sister from the same community” as those in Pakistan to avenge the April 22 terror strike in Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

He further stated that, “PM Modi is striving for the society. Those who widowed our daughters (in Pahalgam), we sent a sister of their own to teach them a lesson.”

The Jabalpur High Court bench, comprising Justice Atul Shridharan and Justice Anuradha Shukla, took suo motu cognisance of the matter and ordered immediate legal action. The court instructed the Director General of Police (DGP) to initiate proceedings within four hours, emphasising the urgency of the matter.

However, law enforcement officials reportedly stated they were awaiting an official directive, assuring that action would be taken upon receipt of the court order.