Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav has ignited controversy with remarks alleging communal and caste bias in the treatment of Indian armed forces personnel by a BJP minister. Speaking at an event in Moradabad, Yadav claimed that Colonel Sofiya Qureshi was targeted because she is Muslim, while Wing Commander Vyomika Singh was spared under the assumption that she belonged to the Rajput community.
Yadav was referring to a past comment made by Madhya Pradesh BJP minister Vijay Shah, who allegedly used derogatory language against Colonel Qureshi. “One of their ministers abused Colonel Qureshi. The High Court has now ordered a case against him again. But he didn’t know who Vyomika Singh or Air Marshal AK Bharti were—otherwise they would have been targeted too,” Yadav said.
The Samajwadi Party veteran went on to identify Singh and Bharti by their caste backgrounds, saying Singh is a Jatav from Haryana and Bharti a Yadav from Purnia. “All three were from PDA—Picchda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak (backwards, Dalits, minorities). One was abused for being Muslim, another was spared thinking she was Rajput, and the third wasn't recognised. Now that it’s in the news, they’re figuring out what to do.”
Yadav further criticised the BJP for focusing on self-promotion rather than honouring the contributions of the armed forces. “When the mentality is poor, instead of recognising the army's achievements, they only highlight themselves,” he said.
His remarks came shortly after Operation Sindoor—India’s targeted military operation against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam attack—which featured key briefings by Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
Yadav also questioned the BJP’s ongoing Tiranga Yatra, suggesting it was politically motivated. “They do everything for elections. Why take out a Tiranga Yatra now? Were the people fighting in Operation Sindoor BJP members?” he asked, as quoted by PTI.
The comments drew swift backlash. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath condemned Yadav’s statements, calling them a serious insult to the armed forces. “The army’s uniform is not seen through casteist lenses. Every soldier serves ‘Rashtradharma’—duty to the nation—and represents neither caste nor religion,” he said in a post on X.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya echoed the sentiment, calling Yadav’s remarks a reflection of "low mentality." “The army’s only duty is to defend the country. Caste and religion have no place in the forces. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized women empowerment in the military. We must all trust him,” he stated.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati also rebuked Yadav, drawing parallels between his comments and those previously made by the BJP minister. “Dividing the army along caste or religious lines is completely unjust. The BJP minister made a mistake, and now this senior SP leader has repeated it. It’s shameful and deserves condemnation,” she posted on X.
Also Read: Apex court asks minister to apologise to Col Sofiya
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