Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya has slammed two Congress and Trinamool leaders whose negative comments on Rohit Sharma have hit the headlines, calling their “body shaming” of the Team India captain not only deeply shameful but also outright pathetic”.

In a post on X, the minister said, “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

Last week, during India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy clash, Congress’s Shama Mohamed said Rohit Sharma “is fat for a sportsman”. 

“Need to lose weight! And ofcourse the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had,” she added.

Her remarks triggered a huge backlash from the country’s sports community, politicians and the civil society. 

The BJP called her comments unpatriotic. The Board of Control for Cricket in India or BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia called the remarks ‘unfortunate’, saying making such comments in the middle of an ICC event could have demoralising effect on a cricketer.

As the Congress, embarrassed, distanced itself from the controversy, she deleted the posts.

Shama Mohammed, however, doubled down on her comments today, saying “It was a generic tweet about the fitness of a sportsperson” and 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… I have the right. What is wrong in saying? It is a democracy,” she told reporters today.

The leader also received support from an unlikely quarter – the Trinamool Congress.

Trinamool’s Sougata Ray said, “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. 

The veteran leader added, “What Shama Mohamed has said is correct”.