Shah went to the extent of calling Col Qureshi ‘sister of perpetrators of Pahalgam massacre’ triggering nationwide outrage against the minister with people in general and Opposition parties in particular demanding sacking of the minister from the state cabinet.
Bhopal: Perhaps vying with one another politicians in Madhya Pradesh stoked controversies at regular intervals to embarrass the state in the eyes of people of the country.
1. Vijay Shah, 63, Minister for Tribal Affairs
The most controversial and insensitive remarks came from Tribal affairs minister Vijay Shah.
Speaking in a programme 63-year-old minister targeted Col Sofiya Qureshi who appeared as a bold face of Indian Army in regular briefings to media on Indian Army’s success while giving a befitting reply to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor initiated on May 7, 2025.
Shah went to the extent of calling Col Qureshi ‘sister of perpetrators of Pahalgam massacre’ triggering nationwide outrage against the minister with people in general and Opposition parties in particular demanding sacking of the minister from the state cabinet.
Though the minister offered unconditional apology, High Court’s principal bench at Jabalpur took Suo Motu cognisance of the minister’s derogatory remarks and directed the director general of police, Madhya Pradesh to lodge an FIR against Shah. Later, the Supreme Court took up the matter in its hands and reprimanded Shah for his remarks. The matter is still pending.
2. Jagdish Devda, 68, deputy chief minister, Madhya Pradesh
Speaking at an event in Jabalpur Devda said, “The entire country, the army, and the soldiers are bowing down at the feet of Prime Minister Modi”. Devda made this remark in the context of Operation Sindoor stoking a major controversy. The Opposition called it as another insult to Army after Vijay Shah’s insulting remarks against Army and demanding Devda’s resignation.
3. Kailash Vijayvargiya, 69, Minister for Urban Administration & Development
Kailash Vijayvargiya stocked a controversy when he made a comment on women’s dresses which are revealing saying he didn’t like women who wore skimpy clothes. His advice was women should wear clothes as per Indian tradition, not in conformity with western culture. “Sometimes, girls come for selfies and I tell them ‘Beta, come properly dressed next time’.
Vijayvargiya was also in news when he made comment on Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi based on a photo saying public display of his affection with his sister was not in sync with Indian culture.
Vijayvargiya also drew criticism when two Australian woman cricketers were subjected to molestation in Indore. Vijayvargiya admitted that there was security lapse but also said the woman cricketers should have been alert and they should have informed the security before moving out.
4. Digvijaya Singh, 78, Rajya Sabha member
5. Jitu Patwari, 52, President, Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee
Madhya Pradesh state Congress president Jitu Patwari faced attack from the ruling party in the wake of his comment that women in Madhya Pradesh consumed more liquor than those in other states of the country. Ruling party leaders and workers staged demonstration against Patwari who happens to be a former minister demanding his resignation while accusing him of insulting all the women of Madhya Pradesh.
6. Usha Thakur, 59, BJP MLA
The BJP legislator sparked a controversy saying those voters who get influenced by money, liquor or gifts would be reincarnated as animals giving a shot in the arm of the Opposition Congress which launched an attack on the legislator who happens to be a former minister, saying she was talking about his own party’s leaders who distributed money and clothes to get votes.
7. Umang Singhar, 51, Leader Opposition in legislative assembly
Leader of Opposition in the legislative assembly Umang Singhar stoked controversy when he called the Chhindwara collector a “slave of the BJP” and also made a derogatory comment on him regarding his clothing inciting condemnation from the ruling party.
8. Rajendra Kumar Singh, 73, Congress MLA
Congress MLA Rajendra Kumar Singh was condemned for his comments when he said, “Bhajpa ne sadhu, sanyasi, baba Bairagi our Mahamandleshwaron ko logon ke beech chhod diya hai. Unhone kaha hai ki- Jao Hindutva ki baat karon, Sanatan ki baat karo, Bhajpa ko promote karo, aur ye saand (bull) dusaron ke khet char rahe hain” A number of sadhus and saints protested his remark.
