Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed faced backlash for calling Team India captain Rohit Sharma a “fat sportsman” who needs to lose weight. Despite deleting the post following criticism from fans and the BJP, she defended her comments, stating it was her right to express her opinion in a democracy. Mohamed described her remarks as “generic” and downplayed the controversy. The BJP condemned her comments, claiming they insulted Indian cricket fans and reflected the Congress party’s negative mindset. Mohamed further challenged a sports journalist’s defense of Sharma, asserting that he is a mediocre captain compared to his illustrious predecessors.
New Delhi:
Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed has attempted to downplay her criticism of Team India captain Rohit Sharma’s fitness, remaining unapologetic despite significant backlash on social media and pushback from the rival BJP. She invoked her right to free speech in a democracy, just hours after labeling Mr. Sharma as a “fat sportsman.”
“Rohit Sharma is fat for a sportsman! He needs to shed some weight! And of course, he’s the least impressive captain India has ever had,” her post stated, which surfaced during the India vs New Zealand match yesterday. However, she deleted the post after being advised by her party to retract it.
The comment ignited a backlash on social media, with the captain’s fans highlighting Team India’s performance statistics under his leadership.
In an effort to mitigate the situation, Ms. Mohamed claimed her remark was “generic” and not harmful. “I merely spoke generically. I cannot comprehend how, in a democracy, we do not have the right to voice our opinions,” the Congress spokesperson stated.
Her comments also prompted a strong response from the BJP, which accused Congress of targeting the Indian captain. “Shame on Congress! Now they’re attacking the Indian Cricket Captain! Do they think Rahul Gandhi will take up cricket after failing in Indian politics?” remarked BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari.
The Congress leader’s comments are indicative of her party’s Emergency mentality and serve as an affront to every patriot who supports the Indian cricket team, he later told NDTV.
Ms. Mohamed also responded to a Pakistan-based sports journalist who described Mr. Sharma as a “mighty effective and world-class performer” while reacting to her comments.
“What is so world-class about him in comparison to his predecessors like Ganguly, Tendulkar, Dravid, Dhoni, Kohli, Kapil Dev, Shastri, and others? He is a mediocre captain and an average player who was fortunate to become the captain of India,” she remarked.