‘Crocodile tears won’t do’: SC slams MP minister over remarks on Col Sofiya Qureshi, orders SIT probe
NEW DELHI, MAY 19 : The Supreme Court on Monday came down heavily on Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah over his derogatory remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, stating that the entire nation felt ashamed by his comments and questioning the sincerity of his apology.
The bench directed the Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) by 10 am on Tuesday to probe the FIR lodged against Shah. The SIT will be led by an officer of Inspector General (IG) rank and will include three senior IPS officers, one of whom must be a woman officer of Superintendent of Police (SP) rank.
The Court instructed that the first status report in the case be submitted by May 28.
“Your statement has brought shame to the entire nation,” the bench told Shah, adding that public figures must be “sensitive before making crass comments.” The court also took a sharp view of the minister’s apology, asking whether it was merely a show of “crocodile tears” aimed at escaping legal consequences.
“We saw your videos. You were on the verge of using filthy language,” the bench remarked. “Being a public representative, you should use every single word sensibly,” the court added while rebuking Shah for his conduct.
Madhya Pradesh Tribal Welfare Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah had landed in this controversy after making a rabidly communal remark targeting Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army.
Colonel Qureshi, along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force, had briefed the media during Operation Sindoor — India’s calibrated military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack believed to have been orchestrated by Pakistan-backed elements.
While addressing a public event during a government function in Mhow (Indore district), Shah praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership in retaliating against the terror strike. However, his remarks, laced with communal overtones, drew sharp criticism.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, Shah said, “Modi ji 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 apparent reference was to Colonel Qureshi’s religious identity, drawing applause from the crowd but condemnation from civil society and political quarters.
Shah went on to reference how the terrorists in Pahalgam allegedly carried out religious identification before killing the victims. He added: “Now, Modi ji could not have done the same. So he sent a sister from their society—so that if you widowed our sisters, a sister of yours will come and undress you. And he [Modi] had said India will strike them in their own home.”
The comments, made in a military cantonment town, have since sparked outrage, with many accusing the minister of communalising the armed forces and disrespecting a serving officer of the Indian Army.
-PTI
