The BJP has drawn up plans to use Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, the face of Operation Sindoor media briefings, as an “inspirational figure” for the party’s outreach among Muslim women on the first anniversary of the Modi government’s third term.

The president of the BJP’s minority wing, Jamal Siddiqui, said the party would hold chaupals (community gatherings) across the country from June 9 to inspire Muslim women to join the armed forces, using the “story of Col Qureshi”.

This comes against the backdrop of Qureshi’s family members participating in a Vadodara road show of Prime Minister Narendra Modi early this week, widely seen as an effort to squeeze political mileage out of the military offensive against Pakistan.

“Colonel Sofiya Qureshi has held the head of India, its culture and even Islam high by her leadership qualities. We plan to use her story to inspire our Muslim daughters and sisters to join the armed forces,” said Siddiqui, the head of the BJP’s minority wing.

He said the programme would be launched from Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh as part of different events to mark the first anniversary of the third Modi government on June 9.

Shaheen Bagh had emerged as the epicentre of the protests against the Modi government’s contentious Citizenship Amendment Act in December 2019. Helmed by women, the protest had lasted four months amid the pandemic until police imposed Section 144 and cleared the protesters.

Siddiqui denied allegations that the use of Qureshi’s name amounted to exploiting the forces for political gains. “What is wrong with using the story of a woman army officer to inspire our daughters and sisters? Muslim girls are discouraged from joining the armed forces under the wrong perception that Islam doesn’t allow it. We want to use Col Qureshi’s example to bust this notion,” he said.

The BJP leader said they would motivate Muslim girls to join the National Cadet Corps, opt for higher studies and join the armed forces to contribute to the country and empower themselves.

Siddiqui said they would not use pictures of Qureshi in army fatigues to avoid accusations of using the military for political purposes. The details, including posters and banners, haven’t been finalised yet, he said, adding that the chaupals would be led by women members associated with the BJP’s minority wing.

Siddiqui condemned Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah’s tasteless “sister of terrorists” remark aimed at Qureshi, for which he has still not been punished by the BJP.

“Nobody in the party has supported the remarks. The matter is in the court, and the minister has also apologised,” he said. Shah has been excoriated by the Supreme Court, and Madhya Pradesh High Court has got an FIR registered against him.

The BJP has been undertaking Tiranga Yatras across the country to mark the success of Operation Sindoor and plans to continue them till the anniversary celebrations.

Siddiqui said that during their outreach, they would also tell Muslim women how the Modi government had been empowering women through measures such as the abolition of triple talaq, women’s reservation and the waqf law amendments.