MP minister booked after HC slams ‘terrorist sister’ remark on Col Sofiya Qureshi

In a sharp rebuke to hate-laced political rhetoric, the Madhya Pradesh High Court on May 14 directed the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against State Tribal Affairs Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah, after he publicly implied that Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, an Indian Army officer, was the “sister of terrorists” involved in the Pahalgam attack.

The court's strong intervention came just hours before police filed the FIR late May 14 evening, following what it called an “unforgivable” and “inflammatory” statement made by Shah during a public event in Mahu on May 13.

In remarks repeated multiple times at the rally, Shah claimed that “those who widowed India’s daughters were dealt with through their own sister,” a reference the Congress party and legal experts identified as a thinly-veiled attack on Col Qureshi, who had briefed the media during Operation Sindoor, a recent military campaign led by India’s armed forces against Pakistan.

Court: Statement encourages separatism, endangers national unity

A Division Bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Anuradha Shukla minced no words in its order, describing the minister’s comment as “cancerous and dangerous,” with the potential to foment separatist sentiments and jeopardize India’s unity, integrity, and sovereignty.

“The armed forces remain one of the last institutional bastions of integrity and sacrifice in this country, and that very institution has been targeted by Vijay Shah,” the bench said.

Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh were the visible faces of Operation Sindoor, regularly updating the nation on its progress. “There is no one else who fits the description used by the minister except Col Qureshi,” the court ruled.

Communal undercurrents: Court flags religious targeting

The court also underlined the communal undertones of Shah’s comments, pointing out that Col Qureshi, a Muslim officer, was implicitly linked to terrorism solely based on her religion.

“To deride a selfless officer of the Indian Army simply because she follows the Muslim faith has the propensity to create disharmony, hatred, and enmity between religious communities,” Justice Sreedharan said.

Chief Minister responds, orders action

Hours after the High Court’s direction, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav confirmed on X that action had been initiated in compliance with the court’s order. “Instructions have been given to proceed as directed by the Hon’ble High Court,” he posted.

A reckoning for irresponsible speech?

This development marks a rare instance of judicial intervention against a sitting minister for communal and defamatory speech. Legal analysts suggest it may set a precedent for increased accountability in political discourse — especially when it targets individuals serving in national institutions like the military.

As the investigation proceeds, eyes remain on both the state government’s follow-through and the wider political message this sends about respect for those in uniform — regardless of faith or gender.