Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], May 14 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president VD Sharma on Wednesday said that the party took cognizance over state Cabinet Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah's remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and warned him about the matter.

He emphasised that the party leadership is very sensitive and no one has the right to say anything. The army officer is the daughter of the country and the entire nation salutes her might.

'The leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party is very sensitive. If any such incident happens, then the BJP immediately holds a proper discussion which is required on the issue. Our leadership took cognizance of the matter and he was immediately warned about the matter. No one has the right to say anything, that sister (Colonel Sofiya Qureshi) is the daughter of the country and the entire nation salutes the might she has done,' Sharma told reporters.

When asked about Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge demanding the dismissal of the minister, the BJP leader said that whatever he says is his opinion but the BJP is serious on the issue.

'What Kharge says or what he doesn't say is his opinion. But the Bharatiya Janata Party is serious and sensitive on this issue,' Sharma said.

Additionally, when asked about action against the minister, the BJP chief maintained silence.

Earlier, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticised Shah's remark and demanded his immediate dismissal.

'A minister of the BJP-led MP government has made a very insulting, shameful and cheap comment about our brave daughter Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. The terrorists of the Pahalgam attack wanted to divide the country. Still, the country was united throughout 'Operation Sindoor' to give a befitting reply to the terrorists,' Kharge wrote in a post on X.

Kharge accused the BJP-RSS of having an anti-woman mentality and pointed out previous incidents of trolling and harassment of women related to government officials.

He further added, 'The mentality of the BJP-RSS has been anti-woman. First, the wife of the naval officer martyred in the Pahalgam terror attack was trolled on social media. The daughter of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was disturbed, and now the BJP minister is making such indecent comments about our brave lady officer Sofiya Qureshi. PM Modi should immediately dismiss such a minister.'

The controversy arose after a video clip of Shah's speech went viral on social media. The state minister later apologised, expressing regret over his remark, 'I am not a God; I'm too human, and I apologise ten times.'

Speaking to ANI over the row on Tuesday, the Minister said, 'My entire background is from the military. Many of my family members were martyred and were in the military... Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is more important than my real sister. I had nothing in my mind; if something slipped out of the excitement and hurt someone, then I would like to apologise from the heart. Not once, but I apologise ten times.'

The minister further said, 'I am a patriotic man, and people of every community worked for the nation. If something slipped out in anger and someone felt bad, I would like to say that I am not a God but a human being. I apologise ten times for it.' (ANI)