“I apologise for my recent statement, which hurt the sentiments of our society. The work done by Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, rising above religion and caste, is highly respected and appreciated. I respect her deeply,” the minister said.

The Supreme Court too called out Vijay Shah for his statements regarding Colonel Sofiya Qureshi- a decorated officer of the Indian Army’s Corps of Signals- and said that they expect a minister to be responsible, especially when the country is undergoing a sensitive situation.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, a senior Indian Army officer, had conducted press briefings alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, providing updates on Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

A controversy erupted after Vijay Shah made a controversial statement during a public event in a rural area in Indore district on Monday without taking Qureshi's name. Foreign secretary Vikram Misri and his family too was target by trolls on social media after he announced the government decision of ceasefire.

Vijay Shah was reprimanded on Tuesday by the BJP state organisational secretary Hitanand Sharma over the controversy. He also got the dressing down from the senior central party leaders.