A controversy erupted after Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed made remarks about Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma’s fitness, calling him “fat” and questioning his capabilities as a leader. The comment led to severe backlash from BJP leaders and members of the cricketing fraternity, with many condemning it as body-shaming and disrespectful to an athlete of Rohit’s stature.
Following the uproar, Mohamed hit back by bringing up an old post by Bollywood actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, who had previously used derogatory language against cricketers. In her response, Mohamed shared a screenshot of Ranaut’s post from 2021, where the actor had reacted strongly to Rohit Sharma’s tweet on the farmer protests. In that tweet, Rohit Sharma had called for unity and a solution-oriented approach to the crisis, emphasizing the role of farmers in India’s well-being. Ranaut had responded to his statement with language that Mohamed deemed offensive, highlighting what she saw as hypocrisy in BJP’s stance on the issue.
Mohamed captioned her post, “What does @mansukhmandviya have to say to @KanganaTeam! #JustAsking,” directly challenging Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who had earlier criticized her remarks on Rohit Sharma. Mandaviya, in his statement, called the Congress spokesperson’s comments on Rohit Sharma “shameful and pathetic,” asserting that athletes should be left alone and respected for their contributions to the nation. He also said that such comments undermine the dedication and sacrifices sportspersons make to represent India on the global stage.
The controversy began when Mohamed, in a now-deleted post, stated, “Rohit Sharma is fat for a sportsman! Need to lose weight! And of course, the most unimpressive captain India has ever had!” She further questioned his leadership qualities compared to previous Indian cricket captains, calling him “mediocre” and “lucky” to have been given the captaincy.
Her remarks drew sharp criticism from BJP leaders and several cricket fans, who found the comments disrespectful and unnecessary. Even the Congress party distanced itself from her statements, asking her to delete the controversial posts.
As the debate intensified, the resurfacing of Kangana Ranaut’s old post added another layer to the dispute. While Mohamed sought to highlight BJP’s selective outrage, her initial remarks about Rohit Sharma remained the focal point of the controversy. The incident once again underscored the intersection of sports and politics in India, with public figures’ statements triggering widespread debates and political reactions.
