8 hours Ago By TOI News Desk
NEW DELHI: BJP wasted no time in mocking Congress after India’s Champions Trophy victory, mocking the opposition over a past remark made about captain Rohit Sharma . The ruling party mocked Congress leader Shama Mohamed, who had previously called the Indian captain “fat” and “unimpressive.” Taking to social media, BJP leaders shared a video featuring a scene from the hit film Pushpa, replacing the dialogue with "Unfit samjha kya? Superfit hai main" (Did you think I was unfit? I am super fit).
The post celebrated India’s back-to-back triumphs under Sharma’s captaincy. The post was captioned, "Shameless Congress mocked and body-shamed Rohit—today, his captaincy roared so loud that these rats have gone into hiding! We will file missing complaint if these trolls are not found by morning!" BJP also shared another post about Sharma’s achievements, saying, "Under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy: Team India wins T20 World Cup 2024 and Team India wins Champions Trophy 2025 ." Following the win, Mohamed congratulated the team, including Sharma, praising his leadership and performance.
In a post on social media, she wrote, "Hats off to captain Rohit Sharma who led from the front with a brilliant 76, setting the tone for victory." Mohamed's controversial comments were made on social media and quickly went viral, sparking widespread backlash. She labelled Sharma "fat for a sportsman" and claimed he was the "most unimpressive captain India has ever had," comparing him to cricketing legends like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Sachin Tendulkar.
Although Mohamed deleted her posts after facing heavy criticism, she defended her remarks, insisting that she was merely commenting on Sharma's fitness, not body-shaming. BJP leaders swiftly seized on the opportunity to criticise the Congress. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla mocked the party, saying, "Those who have lost 90 elections under the captaincy of Rahul Gandhi are calling Rohit Sharma unimpressive!" Poonawalla further lauded Sharma's achievements, including his recent T20 World Cup victory and a stellar track record as captain.
Meanwhile, other BJP leaders, including Pradeep Bhandari, accused Congress of continuously opposing figures who are seen as national heroes, while Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya weighed in, urging political parties to avoid criticising athletes. Mandaviya called out remarks that undermine sportspeople’s dedication, labelling such comments as “shameful” and “pathetic.” He added that politicians should respect athletes, who are capable of managing their professional lives without political interference.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said that Mohamed had been advised to delete her posts and exercise more caution in the future. Congress MP Rajani Patil also condemned the remarks, calling body-shaming unacceptable and criticising the timing of Mohamed’s comments just before a major match. India's men's cricket team, under Rohit Sharma's leadership, triumphed in the Champions Trophy 2025, defeating New Zealand to secure their third title.
Sharma’s performance, including a match-winning 76, was widely celebrated, and his leadership has been lauded by fans and experts..
