Congress Urges Spokesperson to Remove Post on Rohit Sharma After Criticism
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Synopsis
The Congress party has directed spokesperson Shama Mohamed to remove her controversial post criticizing Rohit Sharma after backlash. Leaders emphasized respect for sports icons, distancing the party from her remarks.
Key Takeaways
- Congress intervened after backlash over Mohamed's post.
- Sharma's contributions as captain defended by fans.
- BJP criticized Congress for the situation.
- Mohamed's attempts to clarify her remarks failed.
- No public apology has been issued despite compliance.
New Delhi, March 3 (NationPress) The Congress party has instructed its national spokesperson, Shama Mohamed, to remove her social media post that criticized Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma for his weight after facing intense backlash from political circles and the sporting community.
In light of the significant criticism, the party's leadership stepped in, expressing embarrassment and directing Mohamed to retract her statement, which referred to Sharma as a "fat sportsperson." She quickly acquiesced.
Senior Congress figure Pawan Khera addressed the matter on X, stating, "Dr. Shama Mohamed, 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," he added.
"The Indian National Congress holds the contributions of sporting icons in the highest regard and does not endorse any statements that undermine their legacy," Khera remarked.
The controversy began during India's match against New Zealand when Mohamed tweeted, "Rohit Sharma is fat for a sportsman! Need to lose weight! And of course the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had."
The comment quickly attracted backlash from Sharma's supporters, who defended his leadership with statistical data. The BJP also took advantage of the situation, labeling it a reflection of the Congress' "Emergency mindset."
The following morning, Mohamed tried to clarify her statements, claiming they were "generic" and questioning why criticism was not accepted in a democracy. However, her attempts did little to quell the controversy, putting Congress in a position of damage control.
With increasing pressure, the party distanced itself from her comments and instructed her to delete the post. Soon after, Mohamed not only removed the controversial statement but also eliminated all related posts in which she had defended her stance.
Despite following the party's orders, Mohamed has not yet issued a public apology.
