Congress spokesperson Dr. Shama Mohammad has found herself in hot water after making controversial comments about Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma. She criticized Sharma's fitness, referring to him as "overweight," sparking a significant backlash on social media.
Sports News: Congress spokesperson Dr. Shama Mohammad's controversial comments about Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma have caused a stir. Her remarks about Sharma's fitness, calling him "overweight," ignited a heated debate on social media. The situation escalated, leading the Congress party to distance itself from Mohammad's statement and instruct her to delete the post.
What did Shama Mohammad say?
On X (formerly Twitter), Shama Mohammad wrote, "Rohit Sharma is overweight as a player. He needs to lose weight. Furthermore, he is the most disappointing captain India has ever had." She further stated, "Compared to legends like Ganguly, Tendulkar, Dravid, Dhoni, Kohli, Kapil Dev, and Shastri, what is Rohit's special quality? He's an average player and an average captain who has had the good fortune of leading India." This comment led to a social media frenzy, with many criticizing her remarks as "body shaming."
BJP's counter-attack targeting Rahul Gandhi
The BJP bly condemned Shama Mohammad's statement. BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Poonawalla countered, "Those who suffered 90 electoral defeats under Rahul Gandhi's leadership are questioning Rohit Sharma's captaincy! Was winning the T20 World Cup not impressive?" BJP leaders criticized the Congress party, arguing that a party facing continuous defeats is questioning one of India's most successful captains.
Congress distances itself, reprimands Shama Mohammad
As the situation worsened, Congress officially distanced itself from Shama Mohammad's statement. Congress media in-charge Pawan Khera said, "The Indian National Congress respects sporting icons. Dr. Shama Mohammad's comments do not reflect the party's official stance. She has been instructed to remove her post and advised to be more cautious in the future."
Following the escalating controversy, Shama Mohammad offered clarification, stating, "It was a general comment that has been misinterpreted. I only commented on Rohit Sharma's fitness and had no intention of hurting anyone's feelings. In a democracy, everyone has the right to express their opinion."
She further explained that when the Indian team lost to Pakistan, Mohammad Shami faced criticism, but Virat Kohli stood by him. She drew a parallel, comparing Kohli's and Rohit's captaincy in this context.
Who is Shama Mohammad?
* Originally from Kerala.
* A dentist by profession.
* Became a national media panelist for Congress in 2018.
* Later appointed as a national spokesperson.
* Came into the limelight during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by questioning women's representation in the party.
Shama Mohammad's comments on Rohit Sharma have created a new challenge for the Congress party. The Congress spokesperson is facing intense trolling on social media, while the BJP is using the issue for political gains.
