Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya strongly criticized Congress and Trinamool leaders for their remarks about Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma. Calling their comments “deeply shameful and outright pathetic,” Mandaviya condemned what he described as “body shaming” of the cricketer.
In a post on X, Mandaviya stated, “Congress and TMC should leave sportspersons alone as they are fully capable of handling their professional lives… Such comments undermine the hard work and sacrifices that our sportspersons make to represent the country on the global stage.”
Congress and TMC should leave sportspersons alone as they are fully capable of handling their professional lives.
Remarks made by leaders from these parties, indulging in body shaming and questioning an athlete’s place in the team, are not only deeply shameful but also outright…
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) March 3, 2025
Congress Leader Faces Backlash for Rohit Sharma Comments
During the India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy match last week, Congress leader Shama Mohamed criticized Rohit Sharma’s fitness, saying, “He is fat for a sportsman. Need to lose weight! And of course, the most unimpressive captain India has ever had.”
Her comments sparked outrage across the sports fraternity, political circles, and civil society. The BJP condemned her remarks as unpatriotic, while BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia called them “unfortunate,” warning that such statements during an ICC event could demoralize a cricketer.
Following widespread criticism, the Congress party distanced itself from the controversy, leading Mohamed to delete her post. However, she defended her stance, clarifying that her statement was a “generic tweet about the fitness of a sportsperson” rather than body-shaming.
“I always believed a sportsperson should be fit, and I felt he was a bit overweight, so I just tweeted about that. I have been attacked for no reason… I have the right. What is wrong in saying? It is a democracy,” she told reporters.
Trinamool Leader Supports Criticism of Rohit Sharma
Surprisingly, Trinamool Congress leader Sougata Ray backed Shama Mohamed’s statement, claiming that Rohit Sharma’s performance had been subpar.
“I heard that Rohit Sharma’s performance has been quite poor. He scored one century, but other than that, he gets out after scoring 2, 3, 4, or 5 runs. He shouldn’t be (on the team). India wins because the other players play well, but the captain doesn’t contribute,” Ray said.
The veteran leader further stated, “What Shama Mohamed has said is correct.”
The remarks have ignited a political controversy, drawing sharp reactions from various quarters while highlighting the intersection of sports and politics.
