Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda has landed in controversy after comments made during a civil defence event in Jabalpur were interpreted as disrespectful to the Indian armed forces. The Congress has sharply condemned his statement, accusing him of diminishing the dignity of military personnel.
The remark came in the context of India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack under Operation Sindoor. Speaking at the event, Devda appeared to suggest that the country and its soldiers had “bowed at the feet” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi a statement that has triggered political backlash and public anger. A clip of his speech, shared by Congress on social media, has gone viral.
According to the video, Devda said, “The whole country, including our soldiers and armed forces, bows down at the feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” The comment was made while praising the government’s response to the terror attack.
Congress Criticises BJP for the Statement
The Congress responded strongly, calling the statement “cheap and shameful.” The party said the BJP was running a campaign that disrespects the armed forces. State Congress President Jitu Patwari accused the ruling party of protecting its ministers instead of holding them accountable. “From Vijay Shah’s insult to a colonel to Devda’s disgraceful words, the BJP seems to have launched a full-fledged programme to belittle our armed forces,” he said.
This incident follows closely after another BJP leader, Minister Vijay Shah, made communal and derogatory remarks against Army officer Col. Sofiya Qureshi, prompting the Supreme Court to order a public apology.
Facing heavy criticism, Devda later clarified that his remarks had been twisted by the opposition. “My intention was to say that the people of India bow in respect to our military. The Congress has misrepresented my words for political mileage,” he said. He further added that the statement was being manipulated and demanded action against those responsible for the distortion.
BJP Supports Deputy CM Devda
The BJP came out in support of Devda, with party spokesperson Ashish Agarwal defending his intent. “Devda was saluting the bravery of our forces, not undermining them. Congress is deliberately altering the narrative to score political points,” Agarwal said.
During his speech, Devda also referenced the brutality of the Pahalgam terror attack, where civilians were reportedly targeted based on religion. He called India’s retaliatory action a just response and praised Prime Minister Modi for taking decisive steps.
The BJP maintains that the Deputy CM’s words were meant to honor the military and that the party remains committed to respecting the nation’s soldiers. However, with the clip continuing to circulate and opposition protests brewing, the issue shows no signs of settling soon.
