KBC Hosts Operation Sindoor Officers Sofiya Qureshi and Vyomika Singh, Sparking Controversy

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, prominent figures behind the media briefings of Operation Sindoor, are set to appear on a special Independence Day episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC). The episode will also feature Commander Prerna Deosthalee, the first woman to command an Indian Navy warship.

A recently released promo for the August 15 episode shows the officers being warmly welcomed by KBC host Amitabh Bachchan. In the teaser, Colonel Qureshi discusses the necessity of Operation Sindoor, launched following the Pahalgam terror attack, stating, "Pakistan has been carrying out such acts repeatedly. A response was necessary, and that’s why Operation Sindoor was planned."

However, the appearance of the officers in uniform on a reality show has ignited a debate on social media. Many users criticized the use of armed forces personnel on a popular entertainment platform, accusing the move of politicizing the military for "PR" and "political mileage."

Several commenters questioned whether it is appropriate or even allowed under military protocol for serving officers to appear fully uniformed on such shows. One user remarked, "Have you ever seen anything like this in any serious country? How is this even permitted for active service members? The current regime is shamelessly exploiting our forces for petty politics and hyper-nationalism."

Others expressed concern about the dignity and respect of the armed forces being compromised, stating, "Our Army was sacrosanct, above politics, beyond PR. Our forces are to defend the nation, not a politician's brand."

Military Protocol on Uniform Use

According to Indian Army dress regulations, official uniforms cannot be worn at cultural or social events, public places, or while traveling on civilian transport unless explicitly authorized in writing by commanding officers. Wearing the uniform in non-official activities without permission is prohibited.

The controversy echoes a recent incident involving Malayalam actor Mohanlal, who holds an honorary Lieutenant Colonel rank but faced allegations of misusing the uniform for commercial endorsements, which he denied.