Under fire, Cong leader digs out Kangana post targeting Rohit-OxBig News Network

A day after facing criticism over her comments on Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma’s fitness, Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed on Tuesday dug out a 2021 tweet by BJP leader Kangana Ranaut in which the actor-turned-politician had “criticised the player”.

Taking to social media, Shama pointed to Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who had criticised her remarks, asking what he had to say about Kangana’s tweet on Rohit.

Kangana had hit out at the ace batter over his post at the height of the 2020-21 farmers’ protest against the now-scrapped three farm laws. According to Shama, Kangana’s post, which she later deleted, read: “Why are all cricketers sounding like ‘dhobi ka kutta, na ghar ka na ghat ka’ (shifting loyalty)? Why should farmers be against the laws that are revolutionary for their well-being? They are terrorists who are creating ruckus?”

The Congress spokesperson’s response came after Mandaviya said the opposition party “should leave sportspersons alone as they were fully capable of handling their professional lives”.

Shama had stoked a row with her comments on Rohit’s fitness. In a post on X during the India-New Zealand Champions Trophy clash, Shama had said that Rohit “was fat for a sportsman”. “Need to lose weight! And of course, the most unimpressive captain India has ever had,” she wrote.

The Congress had distanced itself from Shama’s remarks and also asked her to delete the post.