NEW DELHI: Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed on Monday got caught up in a controversy following her remarks wherein she allegedly fat shamed India’s men’s cricket captain Rohit Sharma.
In a social media post on X, the Congress leader described the Indian captain as “fat” and a “mediocre captain”.
“Rohit Sharma is fat for a sportsman! Needs to lose weight! And of course, the most unimpressive captain India has ever had!” she wrote in a now-deleted post.
Later, Mohamed justified her statement and said that the tweet was not body-shaming and she has the right to give her opinion in a democracy.
“It was a generic tweet about the fitness of a sportsperson. It was not 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,” she said.
“When I compared him with previous captains, I put in a statement. I have the right. What is wrong in saying? It is a democracy,” she added.
Who is Shama Mohamed?
Shama hails from Kunnur in Kerala. She was appointed as spokesperson for the Congress in July 2015.
According to Shama’s LinkedIn profile, she is also a dentist and has worked as a journalist before joining politics.
She completed her primary education from an Indian school in Kuwait and graduated as Bachelor of Dental Surgeon from Yenepoya Dental College in Mangaluru.
In December 2018, she was given the role of national media panellist for the party.
Congress reprimands Shama
Meanwhile, Congress pulled Shama over her remarks and asked her to delete her social media posts and exercise greater caution in the future.
“Dr. Shama Mohammed, National Spokesperson of the Indian National Congress, 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,” Khera said.
He also added that the party holds sporting icons in the highest regard and does not endorse any statements undermining their legacy.
Congress MP Rajani Patil said that the Congress will seek a response from Mohamed on the issue. “I personally and the party also will not approve of body shaming anyone. Talking this way about a sportsperson who represents the country is not right. The party will seek a response from her on this,” Patil said.
