The Crossbill News Desk
Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel has approved the state Cabinet’s recommendation against granting prosecution sanction to tribal affairs minister Vijay Shah over his controversial remarks about Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, The New Indian Express reported.
The Governor’s decision came on Monday (August 31) night, shortly after the Madhya Pradesh government told the Supreme Court that the matter was pending before him.
The state had informed a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and J. Mohana that the prosecution sanction file had reached the Governor and that a decision was expected soon.
According to highly placed official sources cited by The New Indian Express, Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal met Patel at Lok Bhawan after the Governor returned to Bhopal on Monday. The Cabinet’s recommendation was subsequently placed before him, following which Patel approved the proposal against granting sanction for prosecution.
The issue relates to remarks made by Shah about Colonel Qureshi, one of the officers who represented the Indian armed forces at press briefings on Operation Sindoor alongside Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.
“Jinhone humari betiyon ke sindoor ujade the…humne unki behen bhej kar ke unki aisi ki taisi karwayi (Those [terrorists] who wiped out the vermilion of our sisters [in the Pahalgam attack]… we avenged these people by sending their sister to destroy them),” Shah had said, repeating at least thrice that their community’s sister was sent by Modiji to destroy them.
The remarks had led to demands for action against the minister and triggered legal proceedings.
A Special Investigation Team constituted by the Supreme Court subsequently completed its investigation and submitted its final report, but prosecution proceedings were awaiting the required sanction from the state government.
The SIT had sought approval to prosecute Shah under Section 196(1)(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with the promotion of communal hatred and ill-will. Such sanction is required before a court can take cognisance of an alleged offence under the provision.
The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet had earlier rejected the SIT’s request for prosecution sanction. A Congress delegation had also met Governor Patel, urging him to reconsider the proposal and seek appropriate action against Shah.
The Governor’s approval of the Cabinet recommendation now clears the state’s position on the prosecution sanction, following the Supreme Court’s intervention and the completion of the SIT investigation.
The Governor’s decision came on Monday (August 31) night, shortly after the Madhya Pradesh government told the Supreme Court that the matter was pending before him.
The state had informed a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and J. Mohana that the prosecution sanction file had reached the Governor and that a decision was expected soon.
According to highly placed official sources cited by The New Indian Express, Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal met Patel at Lok Bhawan after the Governor returned to Bhopal on Monday. The Cabinet’s recommendation was subsequently placed before him, following which Patel approved the proposal against granting sanction for prosecution.
The issue relates to remarks made by Shah about Colonel Qureshi, one of the officers who represented the Indian armed forces at press briefings on Operation Sindoor alongside Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.
“Jinhone humari betiyon ke sindoor ujade the…humne unki behen bhej kar ke unki aisi ki taisi karwayi (Those [terrorists] who wiped out the vermilion of our sisters [in the Pahalgam attack]… we avenged these people by sending their sister to destroy them),” Shah had said, repeating at least thrice that their community’s sister was sent by Modiji to destroy them.
The remarks had led to demands for action against the minister and triggered legal proceedings.
A Special Investigation Team constituted by the Supreme Court subsequently completed its investigation and submitted its final report, but prosecution proceedings were awaiting the required sanction from the state government.
The SIT had sought approval to prosecute Shah under Section 196(1)(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with the promotion of communal hatred and ill-will. Such sanction is required before a court can take cognisance of an alleged offence under the provision.
The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet had earlier rejected the SIT’s request for prosecution sanction. A Congress delegation had also met Governor Patel, urging him to reconsider the proposal and seek appropriate action against Shah.
The Governor’s approval of the Cabinet recommendation now clears the state’s position on the prosecution sanction, following the Supreme Court’s intervention and the completion of the SIT investigation.
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