Modi bows to Col Sofiya's family at Vadodara roadshow, they return the gesture
Modi shared the picture of Colonel Sofiya's family welcoming him with flowers at his Vadodara roadshow. It was a 'moment of pride' for Colonel's family to take part
The family of the Vadodara-born Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, the Indian army officer, who had led the briefings, along with another woman officer, during India’s Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s roadshow in Gujarat’s Vadodara.
Later, Modi shared a picture of the Colonel Qureshi’s family welcoming the prime minister's cavalcade and showering him with flowers on his X account.
Modi was visiting his home state for the first time after Operation Sindoor, which was aimed at targeting terrorist camps and headquarters in Pakistan. Among the hundreds of people, who had turned up to cheer him along his kilometre-long roadshow from the Vadodara airport to the Air Force Station, was Colonel Qureshi's family.
Moment of pride
Colonel Qureshi's parents, Taj Mohammad Qureshi and Halima Qureshi, her twin sister Shyna Sunsara, and brother Sanjay Qureshi were at the roadshow. It was "a moment of pride" for Sunsara to take part in the roadshow, she said.
Also read: NCW slams derogatory remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi
Talking to reporters, Sunsara also said that it is also a matter of pride that "the Prime Minister always stands in the front and gives assurance to the people of the country that he is always with us".
When Modi passed them he bowed down and they returned the gesture, she said. "It was a very different moment. I cannot express it in words. It felt as if he was giving a message to the world that we are standing with you all, and no one needs to be scared," she added.
India's sister too
Further, Sunsara also shared that Colonel Qureshi is her twin sister, born just 15 minutes before her.
Watch: India’s Fearless Women in Uniform: Meet Col. Sofiya Qureshi & Wing Commander Vyomika
"When she does something for the country, it inspires not only me but others too. She is no longer just my sister but the country's sister as well," stressed Sunsura.
Women no less than men
Meanwhile, Colonel Qureshi's brother, Sanjay Qureshi, also thanked "our defence forces" and the government of India for giving this chance to his sister.
Also read: How Col Sofiya Qureshi's feats led to a landmark SC verdict on women officers
“A woman taking revenge for the suffering of other women - what can be better than this? Our forces proved to the enemy that women are no less than men," he stated.
Modi's agenda
On a two-day trip to his home state, Modi will inaugurate development projects worth Rs 82,000 crore later today. He will also inaugurate two Vande Bharat Express trains from Dahod and address two more roadshows.