"Go And Apologise": Supreme Court Slams Madhya Pradesh Minister For Remark Over Col Sofiya Qureshi

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today, May 15, strongly criticised Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah over his controversial remarks directed at Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih called the minister’s comments as unacceptable and insensitive, while advising that individuals occupying constitutional positions should exercise restraint in speech.

Read Also: BJP Minister Insults Colonel Sofia Qureshi: “Modi Ji Sent Their Sister…”

Chief Justice Gavai asked the minister, “What sort of comments are you making? You should show some sense of sensibility. Go and apologise in High Court.” NDTV quoted.

Madhya Pradesh High Court had suo motu ordered the registration of the FIR against the BJP minister following public outcry over his derogatory remark on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.

The top court agreed to hear the minister’s plea seeking a stay on the FIR against him on May 16, Friday. However, the court declined to halt the ongoing proceedings in the Madhya Pradesh high court.

Vijay Shah approached the Supreme Court challenging the Madhya Pradesh high court’s order to register case against him. Following the high court’s directive, an FIR was filed on Wednesday against Shah under Sections 152, 196(1)(b), and 197(1)(c) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Read Also: Operation Sindoor: “An Unbroken Pledge Of Justice,” Says PM Modi

The BJP minister drew flak for his controversial remark that Col Qureshi is a sister of terrorists. “They stripped Hindus and killed them, and Modi-ji sent their sister to return the favour. We couldn’t undress them, so we sent a daughter from their community… You widowed sisters of our community, so a sister of your community will strip you naked. Modi-ji proved that the daughters of your caste can be sent to Pakistan to take revenge,” the minister said, which went viral on social media, inviting public outrage.

The BJP minister’s derogatory remarks were made in the presence of  Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur, MLA and former Cabinet minister Usha Thakur, and several local leaders of the ruling party. Opposition parties and military veterans slammed the minister while the BJP leadership rejected its minister’s remark directed at senior army officer.