A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking the removal of BJP Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah from his ministerial position due to his controversial remarks about Colonel Sofia Qureshi, who was the face of ‘Operation Sindoor’—an Indian Air Force-led operation targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan.
The plea was moved by Congress leader Dr. Jaya Thakur under Article 32 of the Constitution. It challenges Shah's statement made during a public event, where he said:
"Jinhone humari betiyon ke sindoor ujade the… humne unhiki behen bhej kar ke unki aisi ki taisi karwayi."
(Translation: Those who wiped out the sindoor of our daughters, we sent their sister to take revenge.)
The statement was directed at the terrorists behind the Pahalgam terror attack and implied that Col. Sofia Qureshi—who is Muslim—was related to those terrorists. According to the petitioner, this not only misrepresents the armed officer’s identity but also violates constitutional values.
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"The statement of the minister that Col. Sofia Quraishi is the sister of the terrorist who carried out the attack at Pahalgam encourages feelings of separatist activities by imputing separatist feeling to anyone who is Muslim, which thereby endangers the sovereignty or unity and integrity of India," the plea states.
Dr. Thakur claims Shah’s comments breach the oath of office under Article 164(3) and the Third Schedule of the Constitution. Specifically, it refers to Form V, which mandates:
"I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India... and do right to all manner of people in accordance with the Constitution and the law without fear or favour, affection or ill-will."
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The petition argues that Shah's conduct violates this oath and amounts to behavior contrary to constitutional morality and the rule of law. In support, the plea refers to the Supreme Court’s judgment in Tehseen Poonawalla v. Union of India, where the apex court condemned hate speech and communal violence as being against the Constitution.
In the Tehseen Poonawalla case, the Court said:
“Fear of law and veneration for the command of law constitute the foundation of a civilised society.”
Dr. Thakur has requested the Supreme Court to issue a writ of quo warranto to remove Vijay Shah from office and pass any other suitable directions in the interest of justice.
- Issue a writ of quo warranto for removing Vijay Shah from his ministerial post.
- Pass other appropriate orders deemed fit by the Court.
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Meanwhile, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta is already hearing two petitions filed by Shah in connection with the same matter. On May 19, the Supreme Court directed the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of three senior IPS officers from outside Madhya Pradesh to probe the FIR registered against the minister. The bench also stayed his arrest.
The Court extended the interim protection from arrest on May 28, maintaining the status quo until further orders.
Case Title: Dr Jaya Thakur v. State of MP and Ors