The Supreme Court delivered a sharp reprimand to Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah over his inflammatory remarks about Indian Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi

Questioning Mr. Shah's conduct, the Chief Justice remarked, "What kind of statements are you making? You should act with sensitivity. Go and apologise in the High Court."

The minister's comments, which have provoked widespread outrage from opposition leaders, military veterans, and even some members of his own Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led the High Court to direct that a First Information Report (FIR) be filed against him. The Supreme Court declined to stay this directive and refused to grant Mr. Shah interim protection from arrest.

"You know who you are—nothing will happen to you in one day," the Court noted, while scheduling the matter for a hearing on Friday.

Triggering the Controversy

The uproar began with a speech Mr. Shah delivered on May 12 in Raikunda village, Indore. Addressing a local gathering, the Tribal Welfare Minister made remarks widely seen as communal, sexist, and disparaging toward Colonel Qureshi, a prominent figure in national briefings on Operation Sindoor, where she frequently appears alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.

Referring to a recent terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, Mr. Shah contrasted the militants' violence with the government’s retaliatory action. Alluding to Colonel Qureshi without naming her, he claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had responded by sending a Muslim woman officer "to their homes" to retaliate.

“They made our sisters into widows, so Modi ji sent a sister from their own community to strip and punish them,” he declared. “They undressed our Hindu brothers before killing them; we replied by sending one of their own sisters to strike back in their homes.”

Although no names were mentioned, the reference to Colonel Qureshi was unmistakable given the timing and context.

Legal Intervention by the High Court

Responding swiftly, the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Jabalpur issued a scathing order, instructing the state's Director General of Police to file an FIR against Mr. Shah by that evening. It warned that non-compliance would trigger contempt proceedings.

The court described Mr. Shah’s comments as legally offensive and dangerous to social harmony. It further emphasized that the armed forces represent one of the last bastions of integrity, discipline, and sacrifice in the country, deserving the utmost respect.

Political Backlash

The political fallout has been swift and intense. The Congress party has demanded Mr. Shah's immediate removal. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the remarks as “disgraceful and divisive” and called on Prime Minister Modi to take action.

Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari accused the BJP of fostering division and hate, sharing video footage of the minister's speech and demanding accountability.

Even within the BJP, disapproval has surfaced. Former Chief Minister Uma Bharti criticized Mr. Shah’s statement as disgraceful, urging his dismissal. "Vijay Shah ji should be removed from his ministerial position immediately and an FIR must be registered. He has brought shame to the entire nation,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Mr. Shah’s Clarification

Amid growing backlash, Mr. Shah has issued multiple public apologies, claiming his words were misinterpreted and taken out of context. Attempting damage control, he stated:

“Colonel Sofiya has made the nation proud by transcending barriers of caste and religion. She is more revered than even our own sisters. I salute her service to the country. We would never even dream of insulting her. However, if my words have offended any community or faith, I am ready to apologise ten times over.