<p class="bodytext">The comments made by Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who was part of India’s official team that conducted media briefings during Operation Sindoor, are not only inappropriate but hateful. The minister said at a public meeting that the terrorists in Pakistan had been taught a lesson “using their own sister”. He said: “Those who widowed our daughters, we sent a sister of their own to teach them a lesson.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">The comments have rightly attracted criticism and opprobrium and demands have been made for action against the minister. The MP High Court has taken cognisance of the remarks, called them “cancerous” and “dangerous”, and ordered the filing of an FIR against Shah. The state BJP has reprimanded him and the party president J P Nadda is reported to have sought an explanation on the matter from the state unit. The minister has tendered an apology and said he did not mean what was said – a familiar excuse that cannot be accepted on a serious matter such as this. The fact that he approached the Supreme Court against the High Court’s order shows how sincere the apology is. Shah’s comments, in effect, cast aspersions on the armed forces which, as the court noted, is a great institution that reflects the best qualities of public service, and defamed a woman and an officer who has served the country well. The comments also show a disturbing tendency to associate and identify any Muslim name with terrorism. This makes the minister’s utterance hate speech. He made the remarks at a time when the Prime Minister said that “every citizen, every community, every class, every political party, unitedly spoke in one voice for strong action against terrorism”. Shah should be dropped from the cabinet – that would be the appropriate response, assuring the nation that exemplary action has been taken and the law should be allowed to take its course.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The minister’s comment is not an isolated instance. Earlier this week, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and his daughter were attacked and abused online following Misri’s media briefing where the announcement of the ceasefire between India and Pakistan was made. He had to lock his personal account on X in the wake of the trolling. Misri was only conveying the government’s decision to the nation but was vilified on social media. It is unfortunate to note that the government did not respond to the attack on one of the country’s premier diplomats who was only carrying out his duties.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The comments made by Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who was part of India’s official team that conducted media briefings during Operation Sindoor, are not only inappropriate but hateful. The minister said at a public meeting that the terrorists in Pakistan had been taught a lesson “using their own sister”. He said: “Those who widowed our daughters, we sent a sister of their own to teach them a lesson.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">The comments have rightly attracted criticism and opprobrium and demands have been made for action against the minister. The MP High Court has taken cognisance of the remarks, called them “cancerous” and “dangerous”, and ordered the filing of an FIR against Shah. The state BJP has reprimanded him and the party president J P Nadda is reported to have sought an explanation on the matter from the state unit. The minister has tendered an apology and said he did not mean what was said – a familiar excuse that cannot be accepted on a serious matter such as this. The fact that he approached the Supreme Court against the High Court’s order shows how sincere the apology is. Shah’s comments, in effect, cast aspersions on the armed forces which, as the court noted, is a great institution that reflects the best qualities of public service, and defamed a woman and an officer who has served the country well. The comments also show a disturbing tendency to associate and identify any Muslim name with terrorism. This makes the minister’s utterance hate speech. He made the remarks at a time when the Prime Minister said that “every citizen, every community, every class, every political party, unitedly spoke in one voice for strong action against terrorism”. Shah should be dropped from the cabinet – that would be the appropriate response, assuring the nation that exemplary action has been taken and the law should be allowed to take its course.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The minister’s comment is not an isolated instance. Earlier this week, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and his daughter were attacked and abused online following Misri’s media briefing where the announcement of the ceasefire between India and Pakistan was made. He had to lock his personal account on X in the wake of the trolling. Misri was only conveying the government’s decision to the nation but was vilified on social media. It is unfortunate to note that the government did not respond to the attack on one of the country’s premier diplomats who was only carrying out his duties.</p>
