Madhya Pradesh HC orders case against state minister over 'terrorists' sister' remark on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi

NEW DELHI: The Madhya Pradesh high court on Wednesday ordered case against state minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for his controversial remark on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi .

Colonel Qureshi held regular press briefings, where she was joined by foreign secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, to give details of the " Operation Sindoor " launched by the Indian armed forces to strike terrorists in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

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Taking suo motu cognisance of the controversial statement, the high court's division bench of justices Atul Shridharan and Anuradha Shukla ordered the police to register an FIR against Shah, the tribal affairs minister in the BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government.

The court directed the police to file the FIR by 6 pm on Wednesday and asked to be informed about compliance with its order.

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The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled at 10:30 am on Thursday.

Shah sparked a major controversy with comments which appeared to be directed at Colonel Qureshi. In a video which has gone viral, the BJP leader is seen saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a "terrorists' sister from their community" to kill them.

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This drew wide-scale condemnation, with the opposition Congress demanding his immediate dismissal from the Madhya Pradesh cabinet. Under severe flak, Shah said if anyone is hurt by his statement, he is "ready to apologise 10 times," adding that he respects Colonel Qureshi "more than I respect my sister."