New Delhi: Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed, whose comments about Team India captain Rohit Sharma’s weight caused a stir, clarified on Monday that her remark was not intended to body-shame but was simply a “generic” observation. In a now-deleted post on X, Mohamed had stated that Rohit Sharma, after scoring 15 runs off 17 balls in a match against New Zealand during the Champions Trophy, needed to “lose weight” and called him the “most unimpressive captain” India has ever had.
Her comments faced severe bac
klash, particularly from the BJP, which pointed out that Congress, having lost “90 elections” under Rahul Gandhi, was criticizing Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. Responding to the criticism, Mohamed explained that her tweet was merely about fitness, and she felt Rohit was “a bit overweight.” She emphasized that sportspersons should be fit, and her comment wasn’t body-shaming. Mohamed further defended her statement, asserting that as a citizen in a democracy, she had the right to express her opinion.
The BJP, however, accused her of body-shaming the cricketer and mocked the Congress party’s electoral failures. BJP leaders pointed out that despite winning the T20 World Cup and having a strong track record, Rohit was being criticized by a party struggling with internal issues. They also highlighted the contrast between Rohit’s success and Rahul Gandhi’s lack of success in leadership.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Rajani Patil stated that the party would seek a response from Mohamed, emphasizing that body-shaming anyone, especially a sportsperson who represents the nation, was unacceptable.
On the field, India triumphed over New Zealand in a group-stage match, securing a 44-run victory and finishing at the top of Group A with six points. New Zealand, with four points, placed second.