Operation Sindoor: BJP plans special camp for leaders after political backlash over controversial remarks

Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah's objectionable remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi drew sharp criticism from the opposition.

In the wake of the political fallout from highly controversial and insensitive remarks on Operation Sindoor and Army officers by top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Madhya Pradesh, the party has now decided to organise a training camp.

The special camp, which is likely to be organised outside Bhopal in June, will focus on training its leaders on public speaking and ways to handle politically sensitive questions. It aims to ensure elected representatives are aligned not only with the party's ideological direction but also with its communication strategy, particularly when speaking in public and addressing sensitive topics, The Indian Express said quoting party insiders.

The BJP central leadership's decision comes days after Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah's objectionable remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, the Indian Army officer who briefed the media after Operation Sindoor, drew sharp criticism from the opposition. Congress leaders staged protests against the tribal affairs minister and demanded his ouster from the cabinet.

"These people (terrorists) who had wiped out the sindoor (vermilion) of our sisters (in the Pahalgam terror attack) ... We avenged these 'kate-pite' people by sending their sister to destroy them," Shah said earlier this week at a function in MP's Mhow. While the MP High Court directed cops to register an FIR against the minister, the Supreme Court too pulled Shah for his remarks directed at Col Qureshi.

Even before the saffron party could come out of this crisis, Madhya Pradesh deputy CM Jagdish Devda too sparked a political row by suggesting that the armed forces 'bowing' at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s feet. Mangawan MLA Narendra Prajapati also had a slip of the tongue when he said the United Nations had ordered the ceasefire in the India-Pakistan military conflict.

"The training programmes have been set using the central leadership's guidelines and have not taken place in the state for some time. Since the 2023 Assembly elections and through 2024, there have been membership drives and booth-level activities. Now finally we will soon begin these programmes that will especially benefit younger MLAs," state BJP secretary Rajneesh Aggarwal told The Indian Express.

According to Aggarwal, the training sessions will cover important subjects including communication with the public, authorities, and the leadership hierarchy. "Experts and responsible party leaders will lead these sessions. The training covers everyday responsibilities: public relations, proper utilisation of MLA funds, leveraging social media, and managing development work effectively. It also addresses modern socio-political challenges and scenarios," he added.

According to the report, BJP is expected to issue guidelines on how to handle politically sensitive questions, especially those involving tribal communities, law enforcement, and social customs. Party sources said this was necessary because some ministers "struggle to strike a balance between cultural sentiments and legal responsibilities".

A structured syllabus has been crafted for the training sessions by the BJP central leadership. Some of the chapters include intra-party communication protocols (how senior leaders interact with juniors), public messaging guidelines (who speaks on what and when), and emphasis on clarity (guiding MLAs to focus on their specific constituencies and development schemes during speeches).

"It's critical that MLAs, especially the younger ones, understand how to interact with the administration and the public while staying within the party's ideological and organisational framework. Without guidance, they may create their own communication methods, risking deviation from the party’s image, messaging, and discipline," a senior leader told The Indian Express.