"Congress and TMC should leave sportspersons alone": Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya over remark on Rohit Sharma

New Delhi [India], March 3 (ANI): Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and Labour and Employment Mansukh on Monday Mandaviya expressed serious concern over the Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed's remarks on Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma and stated that Congress and TMC should leave sportspersons alone as they are fully capable of handling their professional lives

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 and TMC should leave sportspersons alone as they are fully capable of handling their professional lives," he said in a social media a post.
"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 pathetic. Such comments undermine the hard work and sacrifices that our sportspersons make to represent the country on the global stage," Mandaviya added.
The Congress distanced itself from Shama Mohamed's remarks on Indian Cricket Team Captain Rohit Sharma.
Congress leader Pawan Khera posted on X and said that Shama's remarks do not reflect the party's position.
"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.
"The Indian National Congress holds the contributions of sporting icons in the highest regard and does not endorse any statements that undermine their legacy," the Congress leader added.
In her post on X, Shama Mohamed said that Rohit Sharma needs to lose weight.
"@ImRo45 is fat for a sportsman! Need to lose weight! And ofcourse the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had!" she said.
However, after the backlash, the Congress leader deleted the post from her X account.
Speaking on her post, Shama told ANI that it was a "generic" tweet about the fitness of a sportsperson.
"It was not body-shaming. I always believed a sports person should be fit, and I felt he was a bit overweight, so I just tweeted about that. 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 said.
The post ignited criticism from other members of BJP too with Shehzad Poonawalla attacking the Congress party.
"Those who have lost 90 elections under the captaincy of Rahul Gandhi are calling the captaincy of Rohit Sharma unimpressive! I guess 6 ducks in Delhi and 90 election losses is impressive but winning T20 World Cup isn't! Rohit has a brilliant track record as captain by the way!" Poonawalla posted on X. (ANI)