Madhya Pradesh Minister’s ‘Sister’ Remark Sparks Outrage Over Pahalgam Terror Attack
BJP Minister’s ‘Sister’ Remark Sparks Outrage Over Pahalgam Terror Attack
A Madhya Pradesh BJP minister has landed himself in hot water after making controversial remarks about India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Kunwar Vijay Shah, the Tribal Affairs Minister, sparked outrage when he said at an event that India had taught a lesson to those responsible for the attack using “their own sister”.
While Shah didn’t name anyone directly, the Congress party alleges that he was referring to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, a military officer who briefed the media during Operation Sindoor, the Indian operation that followed the Pahalgam attack. Shah repeated his statement three times, stating that those who had widowed India’s daughters were taught a lesson by Prime Minister Narendra Modi using “their own sister”.
Shah Clarifies, Congress Demands Action
Facing criticism, Shah attempted to clarify his statement, saying it shouldn’t be misinterpreted and that he meant to highlight the strength of the armed forces and their shared values. He insisted that “They are our sisters, and they have taken revenge with great strength along with the armed forces.” However, the Congress party remained unconvinced.
Congress spokesperson Abhinav Barolia condemned Shah’s remarks as “shameful”, accusing him of falsely suggesting a connection between the Indian Army and terrorists. He further stated that the minister was trying to equate Colonel Qureshi with terrorists, highlighting the insensitive nature of the statement.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge joined the chorus of condemnation, demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi dismiss Shah from his post. Kharge called the minister’s remarks “extremely insulting, shameful and vulgar” and criticized the BJP-RSS for their alleged anti-women mentality.
Past Controversies
This is not Shah’s first brush with controversy. In 2013, he was forced to resign as tribal welfare minister after making a sexist remark about the wife of then Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. He was later reinstated.
BJP Defends Shah
Meanwhile, the BJP defended Shah, with spokesperson Shivam Shukla attributing his remarks to the “heated atmosphere” surrounding Operation Sindoor and alleging that the Congress was twisting his words for political gain.
