SC Raps MP Minister Over Remarks On Col. Sofiya Qureshi, Asks 'What Sort Of Statements Are You Making?'

The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah over his controversial remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. The minister moved the apex court against the Madhya Pradesh High Court's order of registration of an FIR against him for his purported controversial remarks targeting Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and sought a stay of the FIR.

Shah, the tribal affairs minister and BJP leader, sparked a major controversy with objectionable comments that appeared to be directed at Colonel Qureshi, whom he tried to project as a "sister of terrorists".

During his speech, Shah said, “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. 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.” 

What Did SC say?

The top court was hearing an urgent mentioning of his plea by Senior Advocate Vibha Makhija against Madhya Pradesh High Court's suo motu direction to register the FIR.

While agreeing to hear the plea challenging HC order on Friday, the Supreme Court also rebuked the minister over his objectionable remarks on Colonel Qureshi.

"What sort of statements are you making? Go and apologise. Show some sensibility," the top court said, according to PTI. According to Live Law, CJI BR Gavai orally said, "A Person holding such an office is expected to maintain such a decree...every sentence uttered by a minister has to be with responsibility."

What Did MP HC Bench Say?

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday ordered registration of an FIR against state minister Vijay Shah for his controversial remarks targeted at Colonel Sofia Qureshi. The court directed the police department to file the FIR by 6 pm on Wednesday.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the controversial statement, the Jabalpur High Court 's division bench of Justices Atul Shridharan and Anuradha Shukla ordered the police to register a first information report (FIR) against the minister. The division bench said the court should be informed about the registration of the FIR.

The division bench directed the state Director General of Police (DGP) to file an FIR against Shah for making a controversial statement for offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 152 (acts endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India), 196 (1) (b) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, language, or other similar characteristics) and 197(1)(c) (statement or action that causes or is likely to cause disharmony, enmity, or hatred between different groups).

Colonel Qureshi had conducted regular press briefings, sharing details of the 'Operation Sindoor' launched by Indian armed forces to strike terrorists, joined by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.