Hit wicket: Congress draws flak for Rohit remark, left fire-fighting

NEW DELHI: Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed kicked up a row on Monday by body shaming Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma in a series of social media posts. Faced with an attack from BJP and condemnation across the board, Congress dissociated itself from Mohamed's posts and asked her to delete them.
Chairman of Congress's media department Pawan Khera issued a statement, "Shama Mohamed 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. Congress holds the contributions of sporting icons in the highest regard and does not endorse any statements that undermine their legacy."
Mohamed deleted her posts but argued that they were generic remarks about the fitness of a sportsperson, which was her right in a democracy. Mohamed posted that she felt Rohit Sharma "was a bit overweight" and wrote about his fitness. "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 added. She argued that questioning the weight of a cricketer did not amount to body shaming.
Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya said sportspersons should be left alone as they were capable of handling their professional lives. "Remarks made by leaders, indulging in body shaming and questioning an athlete's place in the team, are not only deeply shameful but also outright pathetic. Such comments undermine the hard work and sacrifices that our sportspersons make to represent the country on the global stage," he said on X.

BJP IT department chief Amit Malviya said Congress, which has "lost over 90 elections" under Rahul Gandhi's leadership, was now "body shaming" Sharma "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 added.
Amid the kerfuffle, Mohamed drew support from TMC MP Saugata Roy, who said she was right in her observation, and that Sharma should not be in Indian team, and definitely not be the captain. "I believe Rohit Sharma should be removed from the team. He has been failing in matches in every format. The captain must earn his place in the team. I feel Rohit should not be in the team, this is my personal opinion," he added.