National Commission for Women (NCW) on Wednesday strongly condemned insulting comments reportedly made by Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, one of the Indian Army officers who briefed the nation on Operation Sindoor.
Without naming Shah directly, NCW chief Vijaya Rahatkar said such statements were “derogatory and unacceptable” and insulted not only women in uniform but also the daughters of the nation.
“It is extremely unfortunate that such statements are being made by responsible persons. This not only hurts the dignity of women in society but insults our daughters who play a vital role in national security,” Rahatkar posted on X.
Col Qureshi has become a national icon following her role in Operation Sindoor, launched in retaliation to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians and soldiers. She stood alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh during the Ministry of External Affairs’ joint briefing — a rare and powerful image of female leadership in national security.
A video released by the Congress allegedly captured Minister Vijay Shah saying:
“Jinhone humari betiyon ke sindoor ujade the… humne unhiki behen bhej kar ke unki aisi ki taisi karwayi.”
(“Those who wiped the sindoor from our daughters’ foreheads… we sent their sister to teach them a lesson.”)
Critics called the remarks sexist, vulgar, and demeaning to women in the armed forces, sparking massive backlash on social media and in Parliament.
