Bhopal (PTI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said his government has followed court orders and will continue to do so over his minister Vijay Shah’s objectionable remarks aimed at Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.
The CM’s statement comes amid growing demand for the resignation of Shah, the tribal affairs minister.
The Congress has no moral right to demand minister Shah's resignation, he said, adding that the opposition party should first ask Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to step down from the post.
“Whatever order the judiciary has given, our government has followed it. Whatever the court says, we will continue to act accordingly,” Yadav told reporters on the sidelines of the Tiranga Yatra launched by the BJP from Roshanpura Square here.
When asked about Congress demanding Shah’s resignation, he said, “Congress will continue to do so. The party should demand (resignation) from (Karnataka CM) Siddaramaiah.”
“Congress can only talk. Congress's conduct is that it supported (former Delhi CM Arvind) Kejriwal step by step, even though he went to jail while being the chief minister. Where was Congress at that time? Congress does not even have the right to speak. No one has crossed the limits of shamelessness so much as Congress has done,” he said.
Shah had made the controversial statements during a public event in a rural area in Indore district on Monday without naming Qureshi. Through his comments, Shah tried to present Colonel Sofia as the “sister of terrorists”.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the remarks, the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday ordered registration of an FIR against him.
Following the court order, an FIR was registered against Shah in Indore district on Wednesday night.
Ever since the controversy erupted, the Congress has been demanding Shah's resignation.
Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and veteran BJP leader Uma Bharti has also demanded Shah’s immediate dismissal from the cabinet.
Col Qureshi gained nationwide prominence after she shared details of ‘Operation Sindoor’, launched by the Indian armed forces, at press conferences along with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.
After a huge controversy arose over his statement, Shah said if anyone was hurt, he was ready to apologise ten times. He also said that he respected Colonel Qureshi more than he respected his sister.
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New Delhi (PTI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said in the Lok Sabha that Operation Sindoor was "paused" as the armed forces had achieved the desired politico-military objectives and asserted that there was "no pressure" to end it.
If Pakistan indulges in fresh misadventure, it will resume again, the minister said in his opening remarks on the special debate on Pahalgam terror strikes and Operation Sindoor in the lower house.
He said the armed forces are ever vigilant to defend India's borders and the military operation was an effective and well-coordinated strike against nine terror sites.
Seven terror camps were fully destroyed and India has proof of the damage incurred inside PoK and Pakistan, Singh told the House.
The entire operation was over in 22 minutes and the Pahalgam killings were avenged. The attacks, he asserted, were non-escalatory in nature.
"Before executing Operation Sindoor, our forces studied every aspect and chose the option that would cause maximum damage to terrorists while ensuring no harm to innocent civilians," Singh said.
He underlined that to say or believe that Operation Sindoor was stopped under any pressure is baseless and completely incorrect.
It was the director general of Pakistan's director general of military operation who requested his Indian counterpart to end the strikes.
Singh's statement comes against the backdrop of US President Donald TRump's 'ceasefire' claims.
The minister said the objective was not to cross borders or take over territory but to target terrorist camps, their supporters and to destroy them. He asserted that no innocent civilian was targeted in the military strikes.
Pakistan could not hit our targets and there was no damage to any of our important assets, he noted. He pointed out that India managed to get proof of the damages incurred in PoK and Pakistan.
"Operation Sindoor symbol of our strength... demonstrated that India will not remain silent if anyone harms its citizens," Singh said.
India first extends hand of friendship, but it also knows how to twist the wrist if any country betrays it, he said.