Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Vijay Shah. Credit: X/@KrVijayShah
Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Vijay Shah is in the midst of controversy once again after his recent remarks on the BJP government’s flagship Ladli Behna Scheme went viral, prompting the Opposition Congress to demand his dismissal. The Minister had demanded that the women beneficiaries felicitate the CM.
Earlier this year, Mr. Shah, a prominent tribal face of the Madhya Pradesh BJP, was in the eye of a political storm and received nationwide criticism for derogatory remarks on Colonel Sofia Qureshi, who conducted press briefings during Operation Sindoor in May.
Mr. Shah, Minister for Tribal Affairs, and Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation, made the remarks in Ratlam during a meeting with district officials and local representatives on Saturday (December 13, 2025), where he issued directions that beneficiary women should felicitate Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in a special ceremony. Mr. Shah is the minister in-charge of Ratlam district.
A purported video from the meeting went viral, in which he is heard asking officials how many Ladli Behna beneficiaries can attend the event.
Madhya Pradesh BJP Minister Vijay Shah may find his latest controversy the hardest to dodge
“If we want to felicitate the Chief Minister on behalf of the Ladli Behnas (beloved sisters), how many can come? Will 50,000 out of 2.5 lakh attend?” Mr. Shah asked an official, and after the latter said that 50,000 women would attend the event, the Minister directed that a programme be organised in the new year.
Conditional payment
Mr. Shah is further heard saying that those who attend will get an increment of ₹250 in their monthly allowance. “We will verify those whose payments have increased by ₹250 each. If someone’s Aadhaar is not linked, we will put the verification on hold for a while. That means they will automatically become pending. Then all of them will come,” Mr. Shah said.
The hike in the monthly allowance from ₹1,250 to ₹1,500 was announced by Mr. Yadav a few months ago and approved by the State Cabinet in November.
Mr. Shah’s remarks drew a sharp reaction from State Congress president Jitu Patwari, who alleged that the Minister was “insulting” the women beneficiaries and demanded his resignation.
Insult to women
“The BJP, which should honour its beloved sisters, is instead having its pampered minister insult them. First, the vile remark against the nation’s pride, Colonel Sophia Qureshi, and now threats to the mothers and sisters of the state — this is clear proof of the BJP’s frustrated and anti-woman mentality,” Mr. Patwari wrote on X.
“The Chief Minister’s silence is tantamount to endorsing this entire insult. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, has insulting women become the path to advancement in your party? The minister who first insulted the country’s army and now the millions of sisters in the state has no right to remain in the government,” he added.
Ineligible women
The Minister issued a clarification on PTI, saying, “My statement is being twisted and misrepresented. I deny the misleading reports being spread regarding this. The State Government is working continuously for women’s empowerment so our sisters become self-reliant. There is no question of any ill intent towards them.”
“I had been informed that some ineligible women are also receiving benefits and eligible beneficiaries are angry about this. We discussed this at an informal meeting and it was decided that only eligible sisters should get the benefit,” he said.
Following his remarks on Colonel Qureshi, Mr. Shah was booked on the directions of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, and a special investigating team (SIT) was formed on the directions of the Supreme Court.
The SIT, consisting of three senior IPS officers, is yet to submit its final investigation report to the SC.
Published – December 14, 2025 10:31 pm IST
