A senior minister from ruling Bharatiya Janata Party apologised again on Saturday for remarks seen as targeting an Indian Army officer, saying the comments were made in the “excitement of patriotism”, days before the Supreme Court is due to hear a case related to his prosecution.
Vijay Shah, a cabinet minister in Madhya Pradesh state, said in a video posted on social media that he had no intention of insulting Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, the Indian Army or any community. It was his fourth apology since the controversy erupted in May.
“Those words were uttered in the enthusiasm, excitement and passion of patriotism,” Shah said. “There was no malicious intent.”
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the matter in two days. The case stems from remarks Shah made at a public event in the town of Mhow on May 13.
At the event, Shah said that those who had “widowed the daughters of India” had been taught a lesson by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by “sending a sister from their own community”. He repeated the remark shortly afterwards.
While Shah did not name anyone, opposition parties alleged he was referring to Colonel Qureshi, who was among the military spokespersons briefing the media during Operation Sindoor alongside officials from the defence and external affairs ministries.
On May 14, the Madhya Pradesh High Court took suo motu cognisance of the remarks and ordered the registration of a case against Shah, saying his comments referred to “none other than” Qureshi.
Police subsequently booked Shah under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to endangering India’s sovereignty and unity, promoting enmity between communities, and making statements that could harm communal harmony.
Shah challenged the case in the Supreme Court.
The minister first apologised on May 13, saying his remarks should not be viewed “in a different context”, and later said he was willing to apologise “10 times” if they had hurt anyone. He issued another apology the following day, saying he was “ashamed and saddened” by his comments.
On May 19, the Supreme Court rejected his apology, ordered the formation of a special investigation team, stayed his arrest and directed him to cooperate with the probe.
Investigators sought permission from the Madhya Pradesh government in August to prosecute Shah. On Jan. 19, the Supreme Court directed the state government to decide within two weeks whether to grant sanction, which is required under Indian law for the court to take cognisance of the offence.