Chicago – March 07, 2025
Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed is facing criticism for her remarks about Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma. In a post on X, which she later deleted, Mohamed commented on Sharma’s physique, calling him “fat” and suggesting that he needed to lose weight. Her statement sparked backlash from several people, including BJP leaders.
The controversy began after Sharma was dismissed for 15 runs off 17 balls during a Champions Trophy match against New Zealand on Sunday. Reacting to the criticism, Congress’ media and publicity head, Pawan Khera, clarified that Mohamed’s remarks did not represent the party’s official stance.
Later, speaking to news agency ANI, Mohamed defended her statement, saying, “It was a general comment about an athlete’s fitness. It was not body-shaming. I have always believed that a sportsperson should be fit, and I felt he was a bit overweight, so I tweeted about it.”
However, BJP leaders and pro-government media outlets linked Mohamed’s comment to Pakistan. They claimed that her tweet was motivated by Pakistan’s loss to India in the ICC tournament. Many also accused her of supporting Pakistan solely because she is a Muslim.
Meanwhile, critics pointed out the hypocrisy in BJP’s reaction. In 2021, when Rohit Sharma supported the farmers’ protest, actress Kangana Ranaut called him names and labeled farmers as “terrorists.” Despite her harsh words, no BJP leader questioned her comments.
This incident has sparked a debate over selective outrage and the politicization of personal opinions.
