MP BJP chief says party 'immediately warned' minister for remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi; silent on action

NEW DELHI: Madhya Pradesh's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president VD Sharma on Wednesday said the party "immediately warned" Kunwar Vijay Shah, a minister in the BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government, for his outrageous remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army.Also Read | 'Unacceptable': NCW condemns derogatory remarks against Colonel Sufiya Qureshi"The BJP leadership is very sensitive. If any such incident happens, then the BJP immediately holds a proper discussion which is required on the issue. Our leadership took cognizance of the matter and he (Shah) was immediately warned. No one has the right to say anything...that sister (Colonel Qureshi) is the the country's daughter, and the entire nation salutes her," Sharma told reporters, according to news agency ANI.When asked about Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge demanding the dismissal of Shah, Madhya Pradesh's tribal affairs minister, Sharma dismissed it as Kharge's "opinion.""What Kharge says or what he doesn't say is his opinion. But the BJP is serious and sensitive on this issue," the Madhya Pradesh BJP chief stated.However he maintained silence when asked if there would be some action against the minister.Earlier, Kharge criticised Shah's remark and called for his immediate dismissal."The mentality of the BJP-RSS has been anti-woman. First, the wife of the naval officer martyred in the Pahalgam terror attack was trolled on social media. The daughter of foreign secretary Vikram Misri was disturbed, and now the BJP minister is making such indecent comments about our brave lady officer Sofiya Qureshi. PM Modi should immediately dismiss such a minister," Kharge wrote in a post on X.The controversy arose after a video of Shah's speech went viral on social media. In it, Shah is seen saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a "sister from the terrorists' community" to kill them. While he did not name Colonel Qureshi, the remark appeared directed at the army officer, who gave regular press briefings along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and foreign secretary Misri during the recent border skirmishes with Pakistan.'Ready to apologize 10 times'Speaking to ANI over the row on Tuesday, Shah said, "I am from military background. Many of my family members were martyred and were in the military... Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is more important than my real sister. I had nothing in my mind; if something slipped out of the excitement and hurt someone, then I would like to apologise from the heart. Not once, but I apologise ten times."Also Read | 'Ready to apologise 10 times, more respect for her than my sister': MP minister Vijay Shah backtracks from remarks against Colonel Sofiya QureshiHe added, "I am a patriotic man, and people of every community worked for the nation. If something slipped out in anger and someone felt bad, I would like to say that I am not a God but a human being. I apologise ten times for it."