Shama Mohamed downplays 'fat-shaming' Rohit Sharma amid backlash: 'In a democracy...'

Shama Mohamed (file photo)

Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed has reacted to the controversy over her calling Team India cricket captain Rohit Sharma a "fat sportsperson", stating that the remarks were "generic" and cited her freedom to speak in a democracy.

"I just spoke in a generic manner. I fail to understand how in a democracy, we don't have the right to speak," said the Congress spokesperson.

The 'clarification' came amid a backlash over her now-deleted remarks on social media in the midst of the Champions Trophy clash between India and New Zealand on Sunday.

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

The remarks also triggered a political slugfest with the Congress coming under attack from the BJP with the latter terming the remarks as "shameful".

"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," BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also responded to the controversy, saying, "Those who have lost 90 elections under captaincy of Rahul Gandhi are calling 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."

Earlier, Mohamed countered a Pakistan-based sports journalist who called Sharma "mighty effective and world class performer".

"What is so world class about him when compared to his predecessors like Ganguly, Tendulkar, Dravid, Dhoni, Kohli, Kapil dev, Shastri & the rest! He is a mediocre captain as well as a mediocre player who got lucky to be the Captain of India," she said.