New Delhi: A petition has been submitted to the Supreme Court requesting the removal of Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah due to his comments regarding Indian Army officer Col Sofiya Qureshi.

The petition, brought forth by Congress leader Jaya Thakur, claims that Shah’s remarks incite separatist sentiments and pose a threat to the unity of the nation.

“The minister’s assertion that Col. Sofia Quraishi is the sibling of the terrorist responsible for the Pahalgam attack fosters separatist sentiments by attributing such feelings to all Muslims, thereby jeopardizing the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India. This statement directly contravenes the oath outlined in Schedule 3 of the Constitution of India,” the petition stated.

On May 28, the Supreme Court ordered the cessation of proceedings in the Madhya Pradesh High Court concerning Shah’s comments, indicating that it would investigate the issue further.

The court requested a status report from the special investigation team (SIT) established by the Madhya Pradesh government in accordance with a previous directive from the Supreme Court.

On May 19, the Supreme Court reprimanded Shah and formed a three-member SIT to investigate the FIR filed against him.

Shah faced backlash after a widely circulated video appeared to show him making inappropriate comments about Col Qureshi, who, along with another female officer, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, gained national attention during media briefings on Operation Sindoor.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court criticized Shah for making “scurrilous” remarks and using “gutter language” against Col Qureshi, instructing the police to file an FIR against him for inciting enmity and hatred.

Following significant backlash, Shah expressed remorse, stating that he holds Col Qureshi in higher regard than his own sister.