Why is Congress Not Demanding K'taka CM's Resignation? Mohan Yadav Reacts to Controversy Over Vijay Shah's Comments

Bhopal, May 15 (NationPress) After a lengthy silence, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has finally addressed the controversy that has set the state's political arena ablaze. In response to the Congress party's demand for Minister Vijay Shah's resignation, he retorted that the Congress is itself mired in legal complications, with numerous cases pending against several of its leaders.

"How can they call for resignations from others when they have not maintained accountability within their own ranks?" he questioned, wondering why the Congress had not sought the resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda separately confirmed that the matter is being seriously discussed at the highest levels of party leadership.

Simultaneously, reports suggest that Minister Vijay Shah has been out of the public eye since Wednesday afternoon, amidst ongoing protests by Congress members demanding his ousting.

His absence follows the High Court’s sharp criticism of the police’s handling of the FIR, which was poorly drafted.

In Bhopal, police intervened to prevent a group of Congress women activists from protesting outside Minister Shah’s home. Holding posters of Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, they shouted slogans demanding accountability.

To preempt any escalation, security forces deployed a substantial number of personnel in Shyamala Hills to protect the minister’s residence.

Additionally, Congress workers held demonstrations at police stations in Sagar and Morena, urging authorities to file FIRs against Shah. Congress legislators are set to meet Governor Mangubhai Patel on Friday to formally request the minister’s immediate removal.

Leader of the Opposition, Umang Singhar, has stated that party MLAs will push the Governor for swift action to remove Shah from his ministerial role.

In Indore, attempting to mitigate the growing controversy, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers discreetly covered a banner featuring Minister Vijay Shah at an event organized by the Indore Municipal Corporation.

Earlier that day, Shah approached the Supreme Court seeking interim relief, but his request was denied.

Subsequently, the Madhya Pradesh High Court issued a scathing four-page order criticizing the state police for its poorly drafted FIR against the minister.

During Thursday's hearing, a division bench comprising Justice Atul Shridharan and Justice Anuradha Shukla chastised the state police, describing the FIR as merely procedural.

The court underscored that several critical legal provisions had been overlooked despite explicit instructions given the previous day.

Given the evident deficiencies in the FIR, the judiciary deemed it necessary to supervise the investigation to ensure its integrity remains free from external influence or political pressure.

The controversy originated from Shah’s inflammatory comments during a program in Raikunda, Mhow (Ambedkarnagar), where he allegedly suggested that the Prime Minister appointed a “sister” of those responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack.

Although Colonel Qureshi’s name was not directly mentioned, the implication was clear, inciting outrage across the political spectrum. With tensions already high, the High Court took suo motu cognizance of the issue, expressing serious “dissatisfaction” with the FIR lodged at Manpur Police Station in Indore (rural) on Wednesday.