Key points
- Madhya Pradesh High Court directed State Police to register FIR against Shah
- PM Modi sent their (terrorists’) sister in an Army plane: Vijay Shah
- In 2022, “Bulli Bai” listed prominent Muslim women for fake online auction
- Meta approved political ads in India, inciting violence against Muslims
In a significant development, the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday directed the State Police to register a First Information Report (FIR) within four hours against Cabinet Minister Vijay Shah for making inflammatory remarks against Indian Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.
Justice Atul Sreedharan initiated the proceedings on his own accord after taking note of media reports, directing Director General of Police (DGP) Kailash Makwana to register the FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 196 (inciting hostility between groups) and Section 152 (acts threatening tghe sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India), according to the Hindu.
“At first glance, this section appears to be applicable, as Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is a follower of the Muslim faith, and referring to her as the ‘sister of terrorists’ could be detrimental to maintaining harmony between different religious communities,” the court noted.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is a follower of the Muslim faith
Muslim identity
The court further said, “Such a remark has the potential to create the perception that, regardless of an individual’s devoted service to India, they may still be subjected to disparagement solely due to their Muslim identity.”
Scheduling the matter for Thursday, the Division Bench, which also includes Justice Anuradha Shukla, stated, “This must be carried out by this evening. Failing that, when the matter is heard tomorrow, the Court may consider initiating contempt proceedings against the State’s Director General of Police for non-compliance with this Order.”
Such a remark has the potential to create the perception that, regardless of an individual’s devoted service to India, they may still be subjected to disparagement solely due to their Muslim identity.” – State Court remarks
The court also strongly criticised Mr Shah, stating, “The Armed Forces—arguably the last remaining institution in this country that embodies integrity, dedication, discipline, sacrifice, selflessness, character, honour, and unwavering courage, qualities with which any citizen who upholds such values can relate—has been attacked by Mr Vijay Shah, who has used vile and disgraceful language against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.”
Spreading hatred
The High Court termed the Minister’s remarks “dangerous,” noting that such statements now appear to target personnel of the Armed Forces. “Now, they have started reaching out to the Armed Forces of this country,” Justice Sreedharan remarked.
Vijay Shah, a Madhya Pradesh minister and a senior BJP leader, faced severe criticism for calling Indian Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi “sister of the same community as terrorists”.
Shah bowed down to the sharp criticism from Indians who sought an apology for his remarks against Col Qureshi. She conducted press briefings on India’s Operation Sindoor.
According to the Indian media, the BJP leader said in a gathering: “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 Modi ji sent the sisters of their community to strip them and teach them a lesson.”
Issuing apology
The BJP minister issued an apology and said that if anyone is hurt by his statement, he is ready to apologise 10 times, adding that he respects Colonel Qureshi more than his sister, Hindustan Times reported.
The Indian opposition slammed Shah and demanded his immediate removal from MP’s cabinet.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said: “A minister of the BJP government of Madhya Pradesh has made a very derogatory, shameful and cheap remark about our brave daughter Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.”
“The terrorists of Pahalgam wanted to divide the country, but the country was united during entire ‘Operation Sindoor’ to give a befitting reply to the terrorists,” Kharge posted on X.
A minister of the BJP government of Madhya Pradesh has made a very derogatory, shameful and cheap remark about our brave daughter Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.”—Congress President
Hate-filled statement
The MP Congress Committee alleged that Shah’s “indecent’ and hate-filled statement is not just a personal attack, but an open attack on India’s military dignity, national unity, and women’s honour, the report stated.
Colonel Qureshi is an Indian Army officer who joined the Indian Army Corps of Signals in 1999 and rose to prominence in 2016 as the first woman officer to lead a multinational military exercise.
Shah has not only faced criticism from the opposition but also from his own party, as he was summoned by the BJP’s Madhya Pradesh general secretary Hitanand Sharma to the state headquarters in Bhopal.
According to the reports, Sharma reprimanded Shah, who also met the state BJP president, Vishnu Dutt Sharma.
Anti-Muslim hatred
During the 2024 general elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to Muslims as “infiltrators,” a statement widely criticised as hate speech. Human Rights Watch reported that Modi’s campaign frequently used inflammatory language against Muslims and other minorities, inciting discrimination and hostility.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to Muslims as “infiltrators.”
In 2022, an app named “Bulli Bai” listed prominent Muslim women, including journalists and activists, for a fake online auction. This act of virtual harassment was orchestrated by right-wing extremists to demean and intimidate Muslim women.
In 2022, BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma made derogatory comments about Prophet Muhammad during a TV debate, sparking nationwide protests and international backlash. The Supreme Court of India noted that her remarks had incited widespread unrest, reported the BBC.
Reports have highlighted how Hindu nationalist groups have utilised social media platforms to spread anti-Muslim propaganda. For instance, Meta (formerly Facebook) was found to have approved political ads in India that incited violence against Muslims, despite policies against hate speech, according to The Guardian.
