logo
MP High Court orders FIR against Vijay Shah

MP High Court orders FIR against Vijay Shah

Hans India15-05-2025
Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday suo motu directed the registration of an FIR against BJP leader and state minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for his comment calling Colonel Sofiya Qureshi a "sister of terrorists".
The Court described his remarks as 'disparaging,' 'dangerous,' and 'language of the gutters'-not merely targeting the officer in question but denigrating the armed forces as a whole.
It further observed that, prima facie, offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, are made out against the minister. "The armed forces, perhaps the last institution existing in this country, reflecting integrity, industry, discipline, sacrifice, selflessness, character, honour and indomitable courage with which any citizen of this country who values the same can identify themselves with, has been targeted by Vijay Shah who has used the language of the gutters against Col Sofia Quraishi,' it said. A division bench comprising Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Anuradha Shukla held that a prima facie offence under Section 152 of the BNS, which criminalises any act that endangers the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India, was attracted in the instant case.
"Prima facie, the statement of the minister that Col. Sofia Quraishi is the sister of the terrorist who carried out the attack at Pahalgam encourages feelings of separatist activities by imputing separatist feeling to anyone who is Muslim, which thereby endangers the sovereignty or unity and integrity of India," the bench noted.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Delhi man stabbed to death over monetary dispute, 5 held
Delhi man stabbed to death over monetary dispute, 5 held

News18

time20 minutes ago

  • News18

Delhi man stabbed to death over monetary dispute, 5 held

Agency: PTI Last Updated: New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) A 22-year-old man was allegedly stabbed to death with a screwdriver over a monetary dispute in northeast Delhi's Seemapuri area, police said on Saturday. Five people from the same family, including the prime accused, have been arrested for the alleged murder, police said. The accused and the victim were neighbours. According to police, Nafiz, who owns a shop in the locality, had an argument with his neighbours over a financial transaction on Friday night. 'It turned violent, and the victim was stabbed on the left side of his abdomen with a screwdriver. He was taken to a hospital, but doctors declared him brought dead," an officer said. 'During preliminary enquiry, it emerged that the deceased had a prior altercation with his neighbours over money," he added. Muzaffar, the complainant and brother-in-law of the deceased, told police that all the accused were related. Prime accused Sekh Islam, 27, was accompanied by his brother Sohal, 20, his brother-in-law Nazrul alias Nadem, 43, his mother Salma Begum, 55, and his sister Mamuni, 32, police said. 'We have registered a case under relevant sections of the BNS and arrested all five accused," police said, adding that Islam is alleged to have inflicted the fatal stab wound. PTI SSJ SHS RHL First Published: July 26, 2025, 14:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Did Narendra Modi beat Donald Trump? PM tops global popularity charts with 75% approval; US Prez sits at…
Did Narendra Modi beat Donald Trump? PM tops global popularity charts with 75% approval; US Prez sits at…

Mint

time37 minutes ago

  • Mint

Did Narendra Modi beat Donald Trump? PM tops global popularity charts with 75% approval; US Prez sits at…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has topped the global charts as the most popular democratic leader, earning a 75% approval rating, according to the latest data from US-based business intelligence firm Morning Consult. The survey shows that 75% of respondents view PM Modi favorably, while 7% remained undecided and 18% disapproved. Modi is followed in popularity by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Argentine Javier Milei. In contrast, US President Donald Trump ranks eighth, with just 44% approval. Analysts suggest that certain policy decisions, such as trade tariffs and controversial domestic actions, may have contributed to the dip in his popularity. In a post on X, BJP IT department head Amit Malviya said, 'Loved by over a billion Indians and respected by millions across the globe, PM Narendra Modi tops the Morning Consult Global Leader Approval Tracker once again — the highest-rated and most trusted leader worldwide. Strong leadership. Global respect. Bharat is in safe hands. 🙌' However, Opposition parties have criticised PM Modi for consistently avoiding press conferences, claiming it weakens the foundations of India's democracy. India, which ranked 140th out of 180 countries on the Global Press Freedom Index in 2014, has seen its position decline to 159th in 2024, a drop of 19 places. In an interview with AajTak in May 2024, Modi addressed the criticism, saying he refrains from holding press conferences or giving frequent interviews because 'today's media is not the same.' He added that he focuses on doing his work and leaves it up to the media to decide whether or not to cover it. Earlier on Friday, PM Modi became the second-longest-serving Prime Minister of India in consecutive terms -- surpassing the record previously held by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Narendra Modi, 74, took oath as Prime Minister for the first time on May 26, 2014 and has served a total of 11 years and 60 days in office till date. The erstwhile Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had served for 11 years and 59 days in office in consecutive terms. She held the highest office as Prime Minister of India from January 24, 1966, to March 24, 1977. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, holds the record for the longest-serving Prime Minister in consecutive terms, spanning 16 years and 286 days, from August 15, 1947, to May 27, 1964. The first Prime Minister born after India's independence, Prime Minister Modi, has previously served as the Prime Minister of India from 2014 to 2019 and from 2019 to 2024.

Minorities won't believe Vijay — he was silent during CAA, 370, triple talaq: Salma
Minorities won't believe Vijay — he was silent during CAA, 370, triple talaq: Salma

New Indian Express

time37 minutes ago

  • New Indian Express

Minorities won't believe Vijay — he was silent during CAA, 370, triple talaq: Salma

Q: There's often a distinction made between mainstream literature and Dravidian literature. Some even dismiss Dravidian literature as not being 'real literature' — reducing it to something merely used for political campaigning. How do you respond to such opinions, and how do you view the literary value of Dravidian literature? We can't define literature in rigid terms and say, 'this alone is literature'. In earlier times, only Sanskrit literature was seen as 'true literature.' But it wasn't something a common person could understand — it spoke to and for only a certain elite section of society. What about the rest? Their experiences were excluded. This gap was bridged by leaders like Kalaignar Karunanidhi and Perarignar Anna. Their works were powerful because they could be understood by the common man. And to me, that is the true purpose of literature — it must reach people, it must speak to them. Kalaignar's writing spanned across poetry, short stories, novels, even screenplays for films. And he had a strong, devoted readership who admired and connected with his work deeply. Today, literature is more inclusive than ever. Writers like Ramanichandran and Jayakanthan have their own dedicated readers. Each writer has a unique voice, a distinct way of telling stories. And each one has an audience that values that expression. That is the beauty of literature. The real problem is when we try to define literature by ranking it — saying, 'this is the best,' or worse, 'this doesn't even qualify as literature'. Who decides that? Every writer brings something different to the table, and that diversity is what makes literature meaningful and alive. Q: As a Member of the Rajya Sabha, what is your primary goal or focus? What do you hope to achieve through your role in Parliament? I come from a party that has always stood firmly for the ideals of social justice. At the heart of our ideology is the belief that everyone in this society should be treated equally, regardless of their caste, religion, gender, or background. To my knowledge, I am the only woman from the Muslim community in the entire country who is going to take charge as a Member of the Rajya Sabha. This, in itself, speaks volumes about the vision and progressive mindset of our party president and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. K. Stalin. I am deeply grateful to him for giving me this opportunity. As an MP, I will faithfully represent the voice and principles of my party in Parliament. It's a responsibility I carry with pride and commitment. Q: Kamala Surayya was known for her bold and explicit writing — even at a time when such topics were taboo. Today, we see many writers exploring similar themes, but often under the label of 'queer literature' or through anonymous platforms. Do you think it's anonymity that gives writers the courage to write openly about these subjects? I've been considering writing a novel that deals with certain sensitive topics. And while thinking about it, the idea of using a different name and going anonymous crossed my mind. There's a certain courage that anonymity offers. When you write under your real name, people who know you tend to judge or misunderstand you based on the content, regardless of the intention behind it. A few years before the death of Kamala Surayya, I had the opportunity to visit her in Kerala, thanks to a friend. She was under police protection in her own home. During our conversation, she said something that stayed with me: 'Writers write to sense freedom, but my writing has curbed my freedom.' She also said she felt lonely — that she couldn't see or find people like her anymore. That sense of isolation weighed on her deeply. We've all witnessed how writers around the world have been arrested for their writing. So, this fear isn't abstract; it's real and close. Q: When it comes to literature, we rarely see Tamil writers coming together as a collective or voicing concerns as a united front unlike in Karnataka and Kerala. Why do you think such solidarity is missing in Tamil Nadu? Also, when it comes to literary recognition, Tamil writers don't seem to receive the higher-ranking national awards as often as writers from Kerala. What could be the reason behind this disparity? There is politics in groups here that stretches beyond political parties. When Kaaval Kottam by Su. Venkatesan got the Sahitya Akademi Award, one group wrote against it. If there is a voice against my literature, especially from conservatives, shouldn't there be collective opposition from writers? They don't need to support me — they could defend literature. Jealousy runs high in Tamil. No one uplifts the other. In Malayalam, at least when I look from the outside, though there is some talking behind the back, it looks positive. Here, there is no such unity. Q: Does it have to do with not getting much recognition? Even for my novels, sometimes I feel bad knowing that the original in Tamil would not receive an award. But they gave the award for the Marathi translation, which can only do half the justice to the original. There is no logic in this. But I don't know how to lobby. Q: You have contributed to the literature through short stories, novels, and poems. What do you think is the essence of your contribution? I can only say that the essence of all my literature is humanity. I see literature as the basis of loving fellow humans. We read so much literature and stories. The pain from reading the sadness or love of others is only possible through literature. Q: In Tamil Nadu, there were only two political sides — DMK and AIADMK. Now Vijay has started a political party. Generally, minorities vote for the DMK alliance. Now there is talk that Vijay will lure minorities, especially youngsters. His speeches also mainly target minority votes. Is there any chance he gets the votes? Minorities always vote for the DMK. The pattern has changed only once, that I know of. Because no one can forget the 3.5% reservation (for Muslims and Christians) introduced by Kalaignar. This helped them to get employment and education. He is standing alone to target minority votes; he knows it won't happen if he is with the AIADMK-BJP alliance. We don't know who is behind him contesting alone. But minorities won't believe him. You should have done something before, and they must believe you will do something for them again. The CAA protests turned the country upside down. If he has true concern for the minorities, he could have spoken in favour of them. Even recently, there were several atrocities against Muslims in North India. But he has not spoken against anything. He has not spoken when Triple Talaq or abrogation of Article 370 became issues. Suddenly, if he says he will save Muslims, it is not believable. The BJP is responsible for all these atrocities. At least he should criticise the BJP, but that is also not happening. He is only targeting the DMK. So, minorities won't believe him. I think only 5,000 people came for the protest in Chennai (against custodial violence). Minorities will think about who has done things for them. They won't support an actor. In many movies, he has also depicted Muslims badly, showing Muslims as terrorists. These will blow up during the elections. (On the other hand), MGR (late AIADMK founder and CM M.G. Ramachandran) was part of the DMK; he went to the field with cadres. (Late CM) J. Jayalalithaa took over AIADMK — she didn't start a separate party and come on her own to capture power. As far as Vijay is concerned, if we take field-level politics, he is not out there yet. You can't identify a leader without him coming to the field. I agree that Vijayakant (late DMDK founder) is one actor who people voted for. But that has ended.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store