Even while senior BJP leaders insisted that the party will abide by court decisions in the case, the Congress demonstrated outside the Raj Bhavan in Bhopal on Friday, May 16, 2025, calling for the expulsion of Madhya Pradesh Minister Vijay Shah for his recent divisive remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.
Under the leadership of Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar, a group of around 15 Congress MLAs urged Governor Mangubhai Patel to provide them with a memorandum and advocate for their demands. Later, a protest was held outside the Governor’s House by the MLAs dressed in black.
Following the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s suo moto cognisance of the case, a formal complaint was filed against Mr. Shah late on May 14 for allegedly referring to Colonel Qureshi as the “sister of the terrorists” of the Pahalgam incident. The court outlined the provisions under which the Tribal Affairs Minister was to be booked and set a four-hour deadline. The High Court, however, voiced its displeasure with the FIR’s contents the next day. It said that it would keep an eye on the probe and claimed that the report omitted Mr. Shah’s remarks on May 12, which served as proof.
On Friday, May 16, 2025, State Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda caused yet another controversy when he claimed in Jabalpur that the “entire country, the Army and all the personnel bowed down at the feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi” following Operation Sindoor, providing the attacking Opposition with more fodder.
A fight broke out between the Congress MLAs and the police officers who attempted to remove them from the Raj Bhavan after they were temporarily arrested as well. “The BJP does not support the Constitution or the army. Only its chair is present! History demonstrates that anytime the government has been autocratic, the people have forced it to resign. Mr. Singhar stated this on X following his arrest.
Jitu Patwari, the head of the Madhya Pradesh Congress, questioned why the BJP has not taken any action against its two leaders in spite of the Supreme Court calling Mr. Shah’s comments “shameful” and the High Court labelling them “language of gutters.” “Yet, why no strict action has been taken against the two Ministers? Is the BJP government protecting such seditious statements?” Mr. Patwari asked.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav accused the opposition party of “disrespecting” the judiciary and called the Congress protest a “drama.” “The party is aware that the subject is in court and that no one is above the court, regardless of how much drama the Congress puts on. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Singhar, was also the target of a case. Will his resignation be demanded by Congress? The Congress does not pass up any chance to disparage the court,” Mr. Yadav stated.
The Chief Minister also attacked former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, claiming that she declared a state of emergency following a ruling against her by the Allahabad High Court. The Supreme Court’s ruling on Triple Talaq was also modified by the Congress. He said that the government would uphold the court’s ruling in Mr. Shah’s case. “We respect the court’s order, we follow whatever order the court gives,” he said. As of right now, Mr. Shah has not been the subject of any official disciplinary action by the BJP.
