March 3, 2025: Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed found herself at the center of controversy following her remark about Team India captain Rohit Sharma, calling him "fat" and claiming he needed to "lose weight." Mohamed’s comments were posted on X (formerly Twitter) after Rohit's dismissal for 15 runs off 17 balls in a match against New Zealand during the ongoing Champions Trophy.
The tweet, which was later deleted, read: "@ImRo45 is fat for a sportsman! Need to lose weight! And, of course, the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had." These words drew a massive backlash, with many accusing her of body-shaming the Indian cricket team captain.
In response to the criticism, Mohamed clarified her remarks on Monday, stating that her tweet was meant to be a "generic" comment about the fitness of athletes and was not intended as body-shaming. She defended her stance, emphasizing that she had the right to express her opinion in a democracy, adding, "I always believed a sportsperson should be fit, and I felt he was a bit overweight, so I just tweeted about that."
Her comments, however, did not sit well with the BJP, which quickly pounced on the opportunity to criticize the Congress party. BJP spokespersons pointed out the irony of Congress questioning Rohit Sharma’s captaincy while under Rahul Gandhi's leadership, the party has suffered numerous election losses. Radhika Khera, a BJP spokesperson, mocked the Congress by drawing comparisons to Rahul Gandhi's failed leadership and Rohit's World Cup-winning record. Similarly, Shehzad Poonawalla also chimed in, highlighting the stark contrast between Sharma's success as captain and the Congress's political failures.
Congress MP Rajani Patil expressed disapproval of Mohamed’s remarks, stating that the party would seek a response from the spokesperson, emphasizing that body-shaming a sportsperson who represents the country was inappropriate.
Despite the off-field drama, India secured a crucial 44-run victory against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy, finishing at the top of Group A with three wins from three games. Rohit Sharma's leadership continues to be under scrutiny, but India’s spin-heavy attack has been effective, with Varun Chakravarthy’s match-winning 5/42 leading India to a strong semi-final berth.
Last Updated on March 3, 2025 by Disha Rojhe
