Says Context Should Be Considered; Shah Ready to Apologise "Ten Times" if Remarks Hurt Anyone
Indore, May 17 — BJP MLA and former minister Usha Thakur on Saturday sought to defuse the growing controversy surrounding Madhya Pradesh Minister Vijay Shah's derogatory remarks against Colonel Sophia Qureshi, calling the issue a result of a possible "slip of the tongue."Shah has come under heavy criticism after allegedly referring to Colonel Qureshi, the face of the government's media briefings on Operation Sindoor, as a "sister of terrorists" during a public event. The remarks led to a police case against him, following a stern directive from the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which condemned the minister for using the "language of gutters."
Thakur, who was present at the May 12 event in Raykundda village of Indore district where the comments were made, urged the public and media to assess the full context of Shah's statement.
"You know very well that no political leader intends to make such irresponsible comments. However, sometimes, a slip of the tongue leads to such misunderstandings. We need to reflect on these matters seriously and try to understand them," Thakur told reporters.
She reiterated her appeal to evaluate the entirety of Shah’s speech before forming conclusions. “It would be better if we discuss it after understanding the full context,” she said.
Under mounting pressure, Shah has expressed willingness to apologise multiple times, stating, “I am ready to apologise ten times if my remarks have hurt anybody. I request Qureshi more than my own sister.”
As calls for Shah’s resignation grow louder, Thakur distanced the controversy from the BJP's internal workings, saying, “The Congress is doing its job, and the BJP organisation will do its own.”
When asked about reports suggesting that BJP leaders in Madhya Pradesh may receive training in public speaking to avoid such controversies, Thakur endorsed the initiative.
“This is a good initiative. Training should definitely be continuously conducted to become a good speaker. I would suggest such training should be held annually, topic-wise,” she added.
The incident has ignited a fresh political row in the state, with both sides now trading barbs over the appropriateness of public discourse and the responsibilities of elected officials.
