BJP Minister Labels Muslim Army Officer as “Sister of Terrorists” After Operation Sandoor Briefing

New Delhi: India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is once again under fire for a hate-filled remark by one of its senior leaders. Madhya Pradesh minister and veteran BJP politician Vijay Shah sparked controversy after calling Colonel Sophia Qureshi—a Muslim officer serving in the Indian Army—“the sister of terrorists.”
The inflammatory comment came in response to Colonel Qureshi’s media briefing on Operation Sandur, during which she acknowledged the losses India suffered due to retaliatory action by the Pakistan Army.
Vijay Shah accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of enabling the situation, stating, “Modi sent the sister of terrorists in a military aircraft to carry out attacks, and now our sisters are widows.” His remarks quickly drew backlash on social media, where users condemned the statement as discriminatory and prejudiced against Muslim personnel in the Indian armed forces.
The opposition Congress party has demanded Shah’s immediate resignation. Party President Mallikarjun Kharge denounced the statement, calling it “hateful, reprehensible, and a direct attack on Colonel Sophia’s patriotism.” He urged Prime Minister Modi to remove Shah from the cabinet without delay.
Political analysts suggest that the BJP is reverting to its long-standing pattern of scapegoating Muslims to deflect attention from military or political failures. The controversy has added fuel to ongoing debates about religious bias within India’s military and political leadership.