The Madhya Pradesh Congress has urged President Droupadi Murmu to dismiss the state cabinet for allegedly blocking the judicial proceedings against minister Vijay Shah. The Congress claims that the government's refusal to sanction Shah's prosecution indicates a lack of accountability and an obstruction of the judicial process.
The Madhya Pradesh Congress, led by Jitu Patwari, has accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of shielding its leaders from accountability. On Wednesday, Patwari wrote a letter to President Droupadi Murmu urging her to dismiss the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet for allegedly blocking the judicial proceedings against minister Vijay Shah. The Congress claims that the government’s refusal to sanction Shah’s prosecution shows a lack of accountability and an obstruction of the judicial process.
On May 13, 2025, BJP leader Vijay Shah made controversial remarks at an event in Mhow. Shah allegedly targeted Army spokesperson Colonel Sofiya Qureshi by stating that those who had widowed the daughters of India had been taught a lesson by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ‘by sending the sister from their own community’. Although Shah did not name a person, Opposition parties alleged that he was alluding to Qureshi.
On May 14, 2025, the Madhya Pradesh High Court took suo moto cognisance of the matter and ordered the registration of a case against Shah. He was subsequently booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India, an act hurting harmony between communities and for making statements about a member of a community in a manner that could adversely affect communal harmony.
Shah apologized for his remark on May 13, 2025. However, the Supreme Court rejected his apology and ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team to look into the matter. In August 2025, the Special Investigation Team submitted its request to the state government for a sanction to prosecute the minister.
On Tuesday, the state Cabinet decided not to grant sanction for prosecution against Shah. According to Dainik Bhaskar, unidentified officials reported that the matter was discussed in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal, Additional Chief Secretaries Neeraj Mandloi and Sanjay Kumar Shukla and some other ministers. It was argued at the meeting that Shah had publicly apologized several times for his remarks.
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