The Congress party has strongly condemned Madhya Pradesh BJP Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah’s controversial remarks against Indian Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, calling them “hateful” and “insulting”. During a public event, Shah referred to Colonel Qureshi as a “sister of terrorists”, sparking widespread outrage. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded Shah’s immediate dismissal, labelling the comment as “shameful and vulgar”. Protests erupted across the country, including in Goa’s Margao Block, where Congress supporters declared that there is “no place for hate” in India’s political discourse.
The backlash extended beyond political circles. Ex-servicemen in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, condemned the remarks, submitting a memorandum to the president demanding Shah’s removal and arrest on charges of sedition. The Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered an FIR against Shah for hate speech, calling his words “scurrilous” and “language of the gutters”.
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Although Shah sought relief from the Supreme Court, the apex court refused to stay the FIR and criticised him for making such divisive comments while holding a constitutional office. Facing mounting legal and public pressure, Shah issued an unconditional apology, expressing deep regret and stating, “I am ashamed and saddened by my statement and sincerely apologise from the bottom of my heart.”
