Mumbai: Congress national spokesperson Shama Mohamed has reignited the controversy surrounding her remark on the appearance of Team India captain Rohit Sharma by bringing up an old tweet by actor-turned-BJP MP Kangana Ranaut.

Even as her party distanced itself from her comments, Shama Mohamed refused to lie low and went on to tag Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya—who had criticised her comments.

Mohamed questioned his stance on Ranaut’s past remarks about Rohit Sharma.

In the now-deleted 2021 tweet, posted during the farmers’ protests against three now-repealed agricultural laws, Ranaut had used a derogatory term for the cricketer.

She wrote, "Why all these cricketers sounding like dhobi ka kutta na ghar ka na ghat ka? Why would farmers be against laws which are revolutionary for their well-being? These are terrorists creating ruckus... say that na itna darr lagta hai?"

Mohamed’s response followed Mandaviya’s statement urging opposition parties to refrain from dragging sportspersons into political debates.

"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 pathetic. Such comments undermine the hard work and sacrifices that our sportspersons make to represent the country on the global stage," he said.

The Congress spokesperson had triggered backlash after she fat-shamed Rohit Sharma and his leadership.

Posting on X during India's Champions Trophy match against New Zealand, she wrote, "He is fat for a sportsman. Needs to lose weight! And of course, the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had."

Her comments sparked outrage, drawing a sharp response from a Pakistan-based sports journalist who defended Sharma, calling him a "mighty effective and world-class performer."

In reply, Mohamed dismissed the comparison, questioning Sharma’s stature against his predecessors. "What is so world-class about him when compared to 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 wrote.

Amid the controversy, Mohamed later clarified that she was making a general observation and defended her right to express an opinion 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," she said.

Her remarks drew widespread criticism, with the ruling BJP seizing the opportunity to attack the Congress.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari wrote, "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?"

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also condemned the remarks, calling them "unfortunate."

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia told NDTV that such statements, especially during an ongoing ICC tournament, could have a negative impact on the morale of players.

"Very unfortunate for a responsible person to pass such a trivial comment when the team is in the middle of such a crucial ICC tournament. It may have a demoralising effect on an individual or the team. All the players are performing to their highest potential and results are visible. I hope individuals will desist from making such derogatory statements for personal publicity sake," he said.

Amid mounting criticism, the Congress sought to distance itself from Mohamed’s comments.

Pawan Khera, chairman of the party’s publicity department, clarified that her remarks did not reflect the party’s stance.

He stated that she had been asked to delete the posts and urged party members to exercise greater caution.

"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. 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 said.