A massive political row erupted on Tuesday after Madhya Pradesh BJP minister Vijay Shah made a controversial remark seemingly directed at Indian Army officer Colonel Sophia Qureshi, referring to her as the “sister of terrorists” during a public address.
The remark was made at a Halma event in Raikunda village, located in Indore district, where Shah was seen praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s firm stance against terrorism. However, while lauding India’s military action, his choice of words triggered a wave of backlash.
In a video clip of the speech shared by the Congress party, Shah is heard saying in Hindi, "Unhone (aatankwadiyon) humari behan-betiyon ke sindoor ujaade the, wahi kate-pite logon ko, humne unhi ki behan bhejkar unki aisi ki taisi karwai."
Although Shah did not mention Colonel Sophia Qureshi by name, his statement was widely interpreted as an indirect reference to her, especially since she has come to represent the face of Operation Sindoor—India’s counteroffensive in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Reacting sharply, the Congress party condemned the statement, posting the video on social media with the caption:
“‘Colonel Sophia Qureshi is the sister of terrorists’—this disgraceful statement was made by Vijay Shah, a minister in the BJP government of Madhya Pradesh. Every Indian takes pride in Colonel Sophia Qureshi, a daughter of India, yet such a shameful remark has been made about her. She has been labelled the sister of terrorists. This is an insult to our valiant armed forces.”
The Congress also demanded accountability from the BJP leadership, asking:
“Given that Vijay Shah claims to be a close associate of Narendra Modi and calls him his mentor, will the BJP demand his resignation? Will PM Modi and BJP leaders apologise for this vile mindset? Or, as always, will Vijay Shah be rewarded for this deplorable mentality, with rallies held in his support?”
The BJP has yet to issue an official statement in response to the controversy.
Colonel Sophia Qureshi, a decorated officer of the Indian Army, earned widespread praise for articulating India’s position during Operation Sindoor. She played a key role in presenting India’s stance globally after Pakistan-based terrorists targeted civilians and security personnel in Pahalgam.
