FIR against MP minister for using 'language of gutters' against Col Sofia Qureshi

In an embarrassment to the BJP, Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah was booked on Wednesday after the high court criticised him for passing “dangerous” and “scurrilous” remarks and using “language of the gutters” against Col Sofia Qureshi.

Along with IAF Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, Col Qureshi has been the face of India’s press briefings on ‘Operation Sindoor’ as the two women officers flanked Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in their interaction with the media.

Taking suo motu cognisance of Shah's controversial utterances, a Division Bench said his remarks had the propensity to cause disharmony, feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between members of different religions.

The remarks were "disparaging" to the armed forces, which is "perhaps the last institution in the country" that reflects integrity, discipline, sacrifice, selflessness, character, honour and indomitable courage, it said.

The high court directed the state DGP to file the FIR against Shah under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 152 (acts endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India), 196 (1) (b) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, language, or other similar characteristics) and 197(1)(c) (statement or action that causes or is likely to cause disharmony, enmity, or hatred between different groups).

"The same must be done by today evening, failing which tomorrow, when the matter is listed, the court may contemplate proceeding against the DGP for contempt of this order," the HC ordered.

Shah – a Madhya Pradesh BJP leader -- sparked a major controversy with his objectionable comments against Col. Qureshi, whom he tried to project as a "sister of terrorists" while addressing a gathering in Ramkunda village near Indore on Monday, prompting the Congress to demand his resignation.

After he came under fire for his remarks, Shah said if anyone was hurt by his statement, he was ready to apologise 10 times and that he respected Col Qureshi more than his sister.

"This court has been compelled to take up this matter suo motu on account of an incident published in various newspapers and digital media that has taken place at a public function at village Raikunda in Ambedkar Nagar at Mhow on Monday…A sitting minister of the Madhya Pradesh Government, whose name is Mr Vijay Shah, has used scurrilous language, against a senior official of the Indian Army," it said.

"The armed forces, perhaps the last institution existing in this country, reflecting integrity, industry, discipline, sacrifice, selflessness, character, honour and indomitable courage with which any citizen of this country who values the same can identify themselves with, has been targeted by Mr. Vijay Shah who has used the language of the gutters against Col Sofia Qureshi," the order said.

The statement made by Shah prima facie has the propensity to cause disharmony and feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will between the members of the Muslim faith and other persons who do not belong to the same religion, the high court said.

At the function, the minister made nauseating remarks against Col. Sofia Qureshi by way of an innuendo which can refer to none other than her alone, as there is no one else who would fit the description of the comment made by the minister, the order said.

(With PTI inputs)