SP Leader Ramgopal Yadav's 'Caste' Remark On IAF Officer Vyomika Singh Sparks Row; CM Yogi Hits Back

Days after Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah's controversial remarks on IAF officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ramgopal Yadav waded into a fresh controversy by saying that the BJP minister targeted Qureshi as she is a Muslim while IAF's wing commander Vyomika Singh was spared as she was thought to be a Rajput.

Both Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, led the military briefings of 'Operation Sindoor' during the recent border hostilities between India and Pakistan after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

What Did Yadav Say?

Setting out to slam the BJP for its nationwide Tiranga Yatra marking the success of Operation Sindoor, Yadav at a programme in Moradabad said, "These people (BJP) are taking out the Tiranga Yatra... They do everything only for elections. What is the need to take out the Tiranga Yatra? If there is a need then the whole country should be taken into confidence, all the political parties should be taken into confidence. Were the people who are fighting there (in Operation Sindoor) BJP people?"

Referring to the objectionable comment made by Vijay Shah on Colonel Qureshi, he said, "One of their ministers abused Colonel Qureshi. The high court has ordered registration of a case against him again. But he did not know who Vyomika Singh was and neither did he know about Air Marshal AK Bharti, otherwise these people would have abused them too."

"Let me tell you. Vyomika Singh is a Jatav from Haryana and Air Marshal Bharti is a Yadav from Purnia. So all three were from PDA (Picchda, dalit, Alpsankhyak or Backwards, dalits and minorities). One was abused as she was a Muslim. The other was spared thinking that she was a Rajput... and there was no information (to them) about Bharti. When it came in the (news)paper, they are forced to think about what to do now", Yadav further added.

The SP MP said when the mentality is bad, then instead of telling about the achievements of the army, people start talking about their own achievements.

Uniform Not Seen Via 바카라�Casteist Lens바카라�: Yogi

Yadav's casteist remarks drew sharp criticism from Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath who said that the armed forces' uniform is not seen through 'casteist' eyes as every soldier does 'Rashtradharma' (duty towards the nation) and is neither a representative of any caste nor of a religion.

"The uniform of the army is not seen through a 'casteist lens'. Every soldier of the Indian army performs 'national duty' and is not a representative of any caste or religion," he wrote on X in Hindi.

Adityanath further added that the SP leader's statement reflected his narrow mind and goes against the honour of the Indian army.

He said that by binding a brave daughter of the nation within the limits of caste, the SP leader not only displayed his party's narrow-mindedness but also "grave insult" to the army's valour and the nation's identity.

MP Minister's Remarks On Colonel Qureshi

Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah recently sparked a major controversy with objectionable comments that appeared to be directed at Colonel Qureshi, whom he tried to project as a "sister of terrorists".

During his speech, Shah said, 바카라�Those people (terrorists) who had wiped out the sindoor (vermilion) of our sisters (in the Pahalgam terror attack)바카라� We avenged these 'kate-pite' people by sending their sister to destroy them. They (terrorists) killed our Hindu brothers by making them remove their clothes. PM Modi ji responded by sending their (terrorists') sister in an Army plane to strike them in their houses. They (terrorists) made our sisters widows, so Modiji sent the sister of their community to strip them and teach them a lesson.바카라� 

The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed him as he moved the apex court against the Madhya Pradesh High Court's order of registration of an FIR against him for his purported controversial remarks targeting Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and sought a stay of the FIR.

The top court was hearing an urgent mentioning of his plea by Senior Advocate Vibha Makhija against Madhya Pradesh High Court's suo motu direction to register the FIR.

While agreeing to hear the plea challenging HC order on Friday, the Supreme Court also rebuked the minister over his objectionable remarks on Colonel Qureshi.

"What sort of statements are you making? Go and apologise. Show some sensibility," the top court said, according to PTI. According to Live Law, CJI BR Gavai orally said, "A Person holding such an office is expected to maintain such a decree...every sentence uttered by a minister has to be with responsibility."