Why Did BJP Distance Itself from Minister Vijay Shah’s Remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi?

Bhopal, May 14 (NationPress) The BJP's Madhya Pradesh unit on Wednesday distanced itself from Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah’s contentious comments regarding Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, asserting that the party does not support remarks made against individuals who have contributed significantly to the nation's pride.

State BJP president V.D. Sharma indicated that he reached out to Shah promptly after the remarks became public, delivering explicit directives from the party, though he refrained from disclosing the specifics of those instructions.

“The BJP leadership is very attentive to such issues. Inappropriate comments are dealt with swiftly. Vijay Shah has received the party's message. No one holds the right to disrespect Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who has brought honor to our country through her service,” Sharma stated.

When questioned about the Congress party's call for Shah's resignation, Sharma remarked, “I will refrain from commenting on the statements made by Congress leaders. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi served under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, and she is a source of pride for all of us.”

Sharma met with Shah at the BJP headquarters in Bhopal on Tuesday evening for a private meeting that lasted around 30 minutes, with the state BJP office releasing a photograph from the discussion.

Meanwhile, the Congress opposition intensified its criticism, organizing protests at seven locations across the state and reiterating its demand for Shah to resign from his tribal affairs role.

Late Tuesday night, Congress activists defaced the nameplate outside Shah’s official residence in Bhopal.

Senior Congress figure and former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh denounced Shah’s comments as “extremely objectionable” and urged the BJP leadership to take decisive action.

The uproar began following Shah’s statements at a government event in Mhow (Indore district) on Monday, where he lauded Prime Minister Modi’s leadership in the aftermath of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

Referring to Operation Sindoor, Shah commented that PM Modi had dispatched a “sister from the same community” as those in Pakistan to retaliate for the attack.

“PM Modi is committed to the betterment of society. Those who left our daughters widowed (in Pahalgam), we sent a sister from their own to teach them a lesson,” he added.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, an officer of the Indian Army, along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force, had jointly briefed the media during Operation Sindoor, which was carried out in response to the Pahalgam attack.