New Delhi

Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah on Wednesday (May 14) apologised for making an objectionable remark against female Army Officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. BJP minister Shah expressed regret and said, "I am not only ashamed and saddened by my recent statement, which has hurt the sentiments of every community, but I also apologise from the bottom of my heart."

On May 13, Vijay Shah said, "I am not a God; I'm too human, and I apologise ten times." After the controversial statement of the minister, the BJP summoned him. Shah added, "Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is more than a real sister for me, who took revenge from them. I neither had the will nor the desire (to hurt someone). If anyone felt bad about what I said, I apologise from the bottom of my heart."

He sought pardon from the Muslim community and "Sister Sofiya" in this post on X:

हाल के भाषण में मेरी इच्छा और मंशा यही थी कि मैं उनकी बात को अच्छे से समाज के बीच में रखूँ, लेकिन दुखी और विचलित मन से कुछ शब्द गलत निकल गए, जिसके कारण आज मैं खुद शर्मिंदा हूँ और पूरे समाज से और समुदाय से माफ़ी माँगता हूँ।

— Dr. Kunwar Vijay Shah (@KrVijayShah) May 14, 2025

Col Sofiya Qureshi along with Foreign secretary Vikram Misri and Wg Cdr Vyomika Singh briefed media during the active phase of Operation Sindoor.

An FIR has been registered against Vijay Shah at the Manpur police station in Mhow, Indore, following a directive from the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The High Court took suo moto cognizance of the matter on May 14 and ordered the DGP to register an FIR against the minister within four hours.

The case stems from a controversial and inappropriate statement made by Vijay Shah during a public event in Raikunda village under Manpur police station limits in Mhow. The minister was attending a “Halma” program on Monday (May 12) when he made the remark against Colonel Qureshi. A video of the speech surfaced on social media on Tuesday.

During his speech, Shah stated, "Those who destroyed the sindoor of our daughters, PM Modi sent their sister to teach them a lesson. Following this, Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari, along with party workers, filed a formal complaint at Shyamla Hills police station in Bhopal.

In light of the FIR, Minister Vijay Shah may be asked to resign from his position at any time. The FIR at Manpur police station has been filed under sections 152, 196(1)(b), and 197(1)(c) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

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Following the order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has given instructions to take action regarding the statement of Cabinet Minister Vijay Shah.