Madhya Pradesh Deputy CM Jagdish Devda found himself at the centre of a political storm on Friday after a controversial statement in which he appeared to say that the country, including its army and soldiers, had “bowed down at the feet” of PM Narendra Modi for his leadership during Operation Sindoor.
The Congress Party reacted strongly, calling the remark “cheap and shameful,” and accused Devda of insulting the Indian armed forces.
In a video shared by the Congress on X (formerly Twitter), Devda is heard saying:
“We want to thank the Prime Minister. The entire country, its army and soldiers are ‘nat-mastak’ (with their heads bowed) at his feet. The entire country has bowed down at his feet.”
The comment, perceived by many as placing the PM above the armed forces, triggered immediate backlash. Congress slammed the BJP leader, stating: “To say that the army and soldiers bow at the feet of Prime Minister Modi is an insult to their bravery and sacrifice. When the whole nation is saluting the army for its courage, BJP leaders are belittling them. Devda must apologise and be removed from his post.”
The controversy comes on the heels of another political uproar involving State Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah, who faced criticism for derogatory comments about Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, a senior Indian Army officer associated with Operation Sindoor. Shah was recently directed by the Supreme Court to apologise personally to the officer.
Amid mounting criticism and social media outrage, Devda issued a clarification, accusing the Congress of twisting his words. “Congress is misrepresenting my statement. What I meant was that the people of India bow at the feet of the Indian Army for their bravery in Operation Sindoor. My words were altered to create a false narrative,” he said.
Calling for accountability, Devda urged action against those he claims are “conspiring” against him: “I clearly said the people of the country bow before the Army, not the other way around. Those who are trying to defame me should face strict consequences.”
As the controversy continues to escalate, it has reignited debates over political rhetoric surrounding national security, patriotism, and respect for the armed forces.
