Who is Shama Mohamed? The Congress Spokesperson Who Fat-Shamed Rohit Sharma

Congress national spokesperson Shama Mohamed has recently found herself at the center of controversy after making remarks about Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma's physique. Her comments, perceived as fat-shaming, have sparked widespread backlash from cricket fans and political leaders alike.

The controversy erupted when Mohamed criticized Rohit Sharma’s weight and called him the "most unimpressive captain India has ever had" following his performance in a Champions Trophy match against New Zealand. Despite later deleting the post, the remarks fueled a heated political and social debate, with many condemning her for body-shaming an athlete of Sharma’s caliber.

Shama Mohamed’s Remarks on Rohit Sharma

On Sunday night, following India’s Champions Trophy match against New Zealand, Shama Mohamed took to X (formerly Twitter) to share her thoughts on Rohit Sharma's fitness and captaincy.

Her now-deleted post read:

"Sharma is fat for a sportsman. Need to lose weight! And of course, the most unimpressive captain India has ever had!"

She also questioned what made Sharma “world-class” compared to past Indian cricket legends such as:

• Sourav Ganguly

• Sachin Tendulkar

• Rahul Dravid

• MS Dhoni

• Virat Kohli

• Kapil Dev

• Ravi Shastri

Her remarks quickly drew sharp criticism, especially from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, who accused the Congress of undermining Indian cricket and its national icons.

Congress Distances Itself from Shama Mohamed's Remarks

Following the backlash, Congress attempted to dissociate itself from Mohamed’s comments. Pawan Khera, the head of Congress’ media and publicity department, issued a statement clarifying that her views did not reflect the party’s position. He also revealed that Mohamed had been asked to delete the post and advised to be more cautious 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," Khera posted on X.

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…— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) March 3, 2025

Shama Mohamed Defends Herself

Despite deleting her tweet, Mohamed stood by her comments and denied accusations of body-shaming.

Speaking to ANI, she said:

"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. 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..."

#WATCH | On her comment on Indian Cricket team captain Rohit Sharma, Congress leader Shama Mohammed says, "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… pic.twitter.com/OBiLk84Mjh— ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2025

BJP’s Response to Shama Mohamed’s Remarks on Rohit Sharma

BJP leaders were quick to condemn Shama Mohamed’s remarks, accusing the Congress of disrespecting a national sports icon.

• Shehzad Poonawalla (BJP Leader)

“Those who have lost 90 elections under Rahul Gandhi’s captaincy are calling Rohit Sharma’s captaincy unimpressive! I guess six ducks in Delhi and 90 election losses are impressive, but winning the T20 World Cup isn’t!”

• Manjinder Singh Sirsa (BJP Leader & Delhi Minister)

Sirsa called Mohamed’s remarks "shameful" and criticized the Congress for attacking sports icons.

"It is very shameful that an official spokesperson of Congress is giving such a statement. This is Congress’ statement. They feel that only one person is fit for everything, and that is Rahul Gandhi.”

VIDEO | Here's what Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) said on Congress leader Shama Mohamed's remark on cricket captain Rohit Sharma.

"It is very shameful that an official spokesperson of the Congress is giving such a statement. This is Congress' statement. They… pic.twitter.com/QYNLlokwHU— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 3, 2025

• Pradeep Bhandari (BJP National Spokesperson)

Bhandari accused Congress of targeting the Indian cricket team and sarcastically suggested that the party expects Rahul Gandhi to play cricket after failing in politics.

“Shame on Congress! Now they are going after the Indian Cricket Captain! Do they expect Rahul Gandhi to now play cricket after failing in Indian politics?”

Who is Shama Mohamed? A Look at Her Career and Background

Shama Mohamed has been an influential figure within the Congress party for several years. Here’s a detailed look at her background and career:

1. Congress National Spokesperson: Mohamed serves as a national spokesperson and media panellist for the Indian National Congress.

2. Born in Kerala: She was born on May 17, 1973, in Cherukallayi near New Mahe, Kannur, Kerala.

3. Educational Background: She completed her schooling in Kuwait before returning to India to pursue a Bachelor of Dental Sciences at Yenepoya University, Mangaluru.

4. Early Career as a Journalist: Before entering politics, she worked briefly as a journalist with Zee TV.

5. Joined Congress in 2015: Mohamed became a member of the Indian National Congress in 2015 and was appointed as a national spokesperson the same year.

6. Promoted to National Media Panellist in 2018: In December 2018, she was given the role of national media panellist for the party.

7. Personal Life: Mohamed is married and a mother of two.

Shama Mohamed’s Past Controversies

This is not the first time Shama Mohamed has been embroiled in controversy.

April 2023: Hate Speech Allegations in Kerala

In April last year, Kerala police registered a case against Mohamed over an alleged hate speech during an election campaign in the Kozhikode Lok Sabha constituency.

Allegations and Charges

• Incident: While addressing a public meeting in the Kuttikkattoor area, she allegedly claimed that places of worship belonging to minority communities would be at risk if the BJP returned to power at the Centre.

• Legal Action: Kerala Police registered a case under:

  • IPC Section 153: Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot.

  • Section 125 of the Representation of People’s Act: Promoting enmity between classes in connection with an election.

• Election Commission Complaint: The case was based on a complaint forwarded by the Election Commission.

• Mohamed’s Response: She defended her speech, stating that she had no intention of hurting religious sentiments and stood by her statement.

Final Thoughts

Shama Mohamed’s comments on Rohit Sharma’s physique and captaincy have sparked a nationwide debate on body-shaming, political decorum, and sports respect. While she has attempted to defend her stance, the backlash has forced Congress to disassociate from her views.

The controversy highlights the increasing intersection of sports and politics in India, with public figures facing scrutiny for their social media remarks. With BJP leaders seizing the opportunity to attack the Congress, the issue has become yet another flashpoint in the ongoing political rivalry between the two parties.

As the debate continues, one thing is clear—public figures must exercise greater caution when commenting on national icons, especially in the age of social media, where words can go viral in seconds.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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