'Soldiers bow at PM Modi's feet': MP deputy CM Jagdish Devda stirs row; 'insult to Army', says Congress

Jagdish Devda

Days after Madhya Pradesh minister inister Vijay Shah's remark, now a statement by state's Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda on Operation Sindoor has sparked controversy.

During a training program for civil defense volunteers in Jabalpur, Devda spoke about the success of the Operation Sindoor and said that the entire nation and its soldiers "bow at the feet" of Prime Minister Modi.

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Congress (@INCIndia) May 16, 2025

Devda further said, "Under Modi ji’s leadership, the country has responded to terrorists in their own language. Our army, security forces, and all of us feel safe under his leadership."

This comment has not gone down well with some. The opposition and several defense experts argue that the Deputy CM ignored the bravery of the armed forces and gave all the credit to the Prime Minister. They believe it seems as if the sacrifices of the soldiers are being politicized, which is not appropriate.

Congress party called Devda's comment "very cheap and shameful". Taking to X, the party posted: "This is an insult to the valour and courage of the army. When the whole country is bowing in front of the army today, at that time BJP leaders are expressing their low thinking about our brave army."

This comes days after Vijay Shah, the Tribal Affairs Minister of Madhya Pradesh, while speaking at a cultural event in Madhya Pradesh's Mhow, said, the terrorists had "wiped the sindoor of our sisters and daughters, and we sent their own sister to give it back to them in kind".

"They stripped Hindus and killed them, and Modi-ji sent their sister to return the favour. We couldn't undress them, so we sent a daughter from their community... You widowed sisters of our community, so a sister of your community will strip you naked. Modi-ji proved that the daughters of your caste can be sent to Pakistan to take revenge," the minister had added.

He was purportedly referring to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi in his remarks. The Jabalpur HC took suo motu cognizance of the controversial statement and ordered the police to register an FIR against him. His remarks also triggered a massive political row.

Reacting to Vijay Shah's remarks, Minister of Food Processing Industries and an ally to the BJP-led NDA Chirag Paswan, at the Powering Bharat Summit, said, "It is a shameful comment and I am saying it openly and upfront. Had he been a leader of my party, I would have removed him. But that is not my party. Under the alliance, all I can do is share my thoughts."

"But my faith lies with my Prime Minister. He (PM Modi) talks about 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas'. Till the time the head of the government does not say something like this, 140 crore people of the nation have faith that injustice will not be done with them. Every party, sometimes even families have such social elements. In such cases, they should definitely be given a harsh warning. There could not have been a more shameful comment than this," Paswan added.