New Delhi [India], March 3: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Malviya on Monday strongly condemned Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed’s comments on Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma, accusing the opposition party of body-shaming the cricketer and attempting to undermine the morale of the national team. Malviya pointed out that Congress, which has faced defeat in over 90 elections under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, should not be targeting a cricketing icon at a crucial time when the Indian team is aiming for the Champions Trophy.
“The Congress, which has lost over 90 elections under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, is now body shaming the Indian cricket captain at a time when our national team is in pursuit of the Champions Trophy! This is a premeditated put-down to undermine the team’s morale at a crucial time. Their disdain for our icons is apparent. They resent a self-confident India,” Malviya posted on X (formerly Twitter).
In response to the backlash, Congress distanced itself from Mohamed’s remarks. Congress leader Pawan Khera clarified the party’s stance, saying that Shama Mohamed’s comments do not reflect the party’s views.
“Shama Mohamed, National Spokesperson of the Indian National Congress, made certain remarks about a cricketing legend that do not reflect the party’s position. She has been asked to delete the concerned social media posts from X and has been advised to exercise greater caution in the future,” Khera said in a post on X. He emphasized that the Indian National Congress holds the contributions of sporting icons in the highest regard and does not endorse any statements that undermine their legacy.
Earlier, Mohamed had tweeted that Rohit Sharma, India’s cricket captain, needed to lose weight, calling him “fat for a sportsman” and labeling him as the “most unimpressive captain India has ever had.” However, following a significant backlash, she deleted the post.
Speaking to ANI, Shama Mohamed defended her tweet, explaining that it was a “generic” comment about the fitness of a sportsperson and not meant as body-shaming. “I always believed a sports person should be fit, and I felt he was a bit overweight, so I just tweeted about that. I have been attacked for no reason. When I compared him with previous captains, I put in a statement. I have the right. What is wrong in saying that? It is a democracy,” she stated.
The tweet sparked criticism from BJP members as well. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took to X to attack the Congress party, highlighting the party’s repeated electoral losses under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership. “Those who have lost 90 elections under the captaincy of Rahul Gandhi are calling the captaincy of Rohit Sharma unimpressive! I guess 6 ducks in Delhi and 90 election losses are impressive, but winning the T20 World Cup isn’t! Rohit has a brilliant track record as captain by the way!” Poonawalla posted.
BJP leader Radhika Khera also criticized the Congress, stating, “It is the Congress party that humiliated athletes for decades, denied them recognition, and now dares to mock a cricketing legend. The party that thrives on nepotism is lecturing a self-made champion? Rohit Sharma is a World Cup-winning captain. Your leader, Rahul Gandhi, can’t even captain his own party without crashing it into the ground!”
Khera also pointed out that Congress should focus on its internal issues rather than insulting national icons, stating, “Instead of your team spewing cheap insults at a man who has brought glory to India, you and your spokespersons should focus on the real ‘weight’ your party is shedding—relevance, credibility, and elections!”
This controversy over Shama Mohamed’s remarks on Rohit Sharma has sparked a wider political debate, with the BJP accusing Congress of targeting national heroes, while the Congress distanced itself from the statements made by its spokesperson.