Opinion Express View on MP minister’s comments on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi: Fire the minister

Since the terrorist attack at Pahalgam on April 22, through the days of collective anger, grief and sympathy for the victims and their families, to the destruction of terrorist camps and training grounds by Operation Sindoor — India has been united as it sought justice. In his address to the nation after the ceasefire, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pointed out that “the heinous attempt to break the harmony and unity of this country” failed as “every citizen, every community, every class, every political party, unitedly spoke in one voice for strong action against terrorism”. The PM’s address echoed the sentiments of the country, including leaders across the political spectrum. There are some, though, who mask prejudice and hate and empty bluster as patriotism.

Less than a day after the PM’s address, BJP MLA and Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah said at a public meeting that terrorists in Pakistan had been taught a lesson “using their own sister”. He was referring to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, prominent in the media briefings during Operation Sindoor. The MP High Court did the right thing — it took cognisance of his remarks, called them “cancerous” and “dangerous”, and ordered an FIR against him. The ruling party must take action against its minister because setting an example at this level is crucial. For, Shah’s voice is a prominent one but it is not the only one of its ilk. Earlier this week, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and his daughter were attacked and abused online because India’s top diplomat did his job and articulated the government’s position on pausing hostilities.

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The current pause is a moment to reflect on how to press India’s advantage diplomatically and strategically, ensure that the economic gains that underpin its progress and power are built on. The space for diplomacy, post Op Sindoor, be it on the river waters or on military de-escalation, needs to be secure and expansive. When TV studio warriors — at a comfortable remove from those facing blackouts and vulnerable to shelling — call for “eradication”, “dismembering” and “total victory”, when they peddle outright falsehood to whip up public opinion, they constrain the room for manoeuvre for India’s diplomacy. Even Congress, which has admirably avoided partisan politics on the operation, needs to rethink before it invokes Indira Gandhi and 1971. In the fact-free world of social media, where the abuse machine hums 24 by 7, this isn’t a valuable history lesson but a call for dialing up the machine. Comparisons of April 22, 2025, with 26/11 or 1971 are loose, and fraught. Operation Sindoor was a necessary attempt to secure citizens against terror, and raise the costs of a proxy war for Rawalpindi — much work needs to be done in its wake. Getting TV anchors to be accurate or trolls to behave may be impossible, firing the Minister is in the government’s remit — and the right thing to do.