Ram Gopal Yadav stirs row with Vyomika Singh 'caste' remark; Yogi, Mayawati react

Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav on Thursday (May 15) sparked a controversy when he said Colonel Sofiya Qureshi was targeted by a BJP minister as she is a Muslim, but Wing Commander Vyomika Singh was spared thinking she was Rajput.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reacted sharply to the remark, saying the uniform of armed forces is not seen through 'casteist glasses' as every soldier performs 'Rashtradharma' and is not a representative of any caste or religion.

Also Read: Col Qureshi remark: HC to monitor probe; SC slams minister but agrees to hear plea

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh was a regular face in the press briefings on Operation Sindoor along with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.

Yadav takes dig at BJP’s ‘Tiranga Yatra’

While taking a dig at the multiple Tiranga Yatra being taken out by the BJP across the country, Yadav at a programme in Moradabad, said, "These people (BJP) are taking out the Tiranga Yatra... They do everything only for elections. What is the need to take out the Tiranga Yatra? If there is a need, then the whole country should be taken into confidence, all the political parties should be taken into confidence. Were the people who are fighting there (in Operation Sindoor) BJP people?"

Referring to the objectionable comment made by Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah on Colonel Qureshi, he said, "One of their ministers abused Colonel Qureshi. The high court has ordered registration of a case against him again. But he did not know who Vyomika Singh was and neither did he know about Air Marshal AK Bharti, otherwise these people would have abused them too."

Also Read: When Operation Sindoor exposed the dysfunction of Hindutva

Yadav added, "Let me tell you. Vyomika Singh is a Jatav from Haryana and Air Marshal Bharti is a Yadav from Purnia. So all three were from PDA (Picchda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak or Backwards, Dalits and minorities). One was abused as she was a Muslim. The other was spared thinking that she was a Rajput... and there was no information (to them) about Bharti. When it came in the (news)paper, they are forced to think about what to do now."

The SP MP said when the mentality is bad, then instead of speaking about the achievements of the army, people start talking about their own achievements.

‘Narrow thinking’: Adityanath

Adityanath said Yadav's remarks not only shows his narrow thinking but are also against the honour of the Indian army.

In a post on X, he said, "The uniform of the army is not seen through 'casteist glasses'. Every soldier of the Indian Army performs 'Rashtradharma' and is not a representative of any caste or religion. The SP national general secretary binding a brave daughter within the confines of caste is not only a display of his party's narrow thinking, but is also a gross insult to the valour of the army and the identity of the country.”

Also Read: MP minister used 'language of gutters' against Col Qureshi, says HC; orders FIR

Questioning the mentality of the SP, he said this is the same thinking which dares to divide even patriotism for appeasement and vote bank politics. He said people will definitely respond to this "distorted casteist thinking".

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya in his post on X said, "The army is beyond caste and religion. The army has only one duty, 'defence of the country'. Therefore, looking at caste and religion in the army is a 'low mentality'. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has laid special emphasis on women empowerment in the army as well. Everyone should trust him."

Mayawati attacks both SP and BJP

Attacking both SP and BJP, BSP chief Mayawati said in a post on X, "The entire country is united and proud of the valour of Operation Sindoor of the Indian Army against the terrorists in Pakistan. In such a situation, it is extremely unfair to judge/divide the army on the basis of religion and caste. The mistake that the BJP minister made in this regard, the same senior SP leader has also made today, which is shameful and condemnable."

Also Read: 'Ready to apologise 10 times over': MP minister after ‘terrorists’ sister’ remark at Sofiya Qureshi

SP’s Juhi Singh criticises BJP

The Samajwadi Party's women's wing national president Juhi Singh said, "Military's valour diminishes when someone who passed a comment on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is not removed from his post and BJP's subsequent absolute silence on the comment... Maybe they should look at themselves before making any allegation on Samajwadi Party..."

(With inputs from agencies)