Top court raps MP minister over remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi

The Supreme Court on Thursday came down heavily on Madhya Pradesh BJP Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah over his remarks against Indian Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, refusing to intervene in the FIR lodged against him for now.

A day after the Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered an FIR against Vijay Shah for “hate speech” against Army’s Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, the minister had approached the Supreme Court for relief.

The Chief Justice of India, BR Gavai, described the minister's comments as unacceptable and insensitive, stating that individuals occupying constitutional positions should exercise restraint in speech. Chief Justice questioned the conduct of Shah by asking, "What sort of comments are you making? You should show some sense of sensibility. Go and apologise in High Court."

The remarks, which have drawn widespread criticism from the Opposition, military veterans, and even some members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led to an FIR against the minister. The court refused to stay the High Court's directive to initiate criminal proceedings against him.

"Nothing will happen to you in a day. You know who you are," the Supreme Court said, rejecting a plea for interim protection from arrest. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the plea on Friday.

In a plea filed late at night on Wednesday, Shah has sought a stay on the High Court order, on grounds that his statement has been “misinterpreted”. The High Court had initiated suo motu action against Shah for calling Colonel Qureshi a “sister of terrorists,” describing his comments as “scurrilous” and “language of the gutters.”

Shah’s counsel told the Supreme Court that the minister had apologised, expressed remorse, and that his statement was distorted and hyped by the media. “He has expressed remorse, and his statements have been misunderstood,” the counsel submitted.

However, the CJI observed, “Every sentence uttered by a person in such a position is heard, especially when the country is going through a sensitive situation.” He added, “You know who you are nothing will happen in 24 hours.”

In Indore, a case has been registered against Shah under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The case was registered in compliance with a high court order, which called the minister's remarks "disparaging and dangerous".

The controversy stems from a public address. Vijay Shah, speaking at a cultural event in Mhow, said, the terrorists had “wiped the sindoor of our sisters and daughters, and we sent their own sister to give it back to them in kind".

“They stripped Hindus and killed them, and Modi-ji sent their sister to return the favour. We couldn’t undress them, so we sent a daughter from their community… You widowed sisters of our community, so a sister of your community will strip you naked. Modi-ji proved that the daughters of your caste can be sent to Pakistan to take revenge," the minister added.