Former cricketer Yograj Singh has responded strongly to Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed‘s controversial comments about Indian captain Rohit Sharma.
Yograj expressed that if he were Prime Minister, he would have demanded Shama leave the country for her remarks about the Indian captain.
She had criticised Rohit’s fitness, suggesting he needed to lose weight and describing him as “fat” for a sportsman. She also called him the country’s “most unimpressive captain.”
Her comments followed Rohit’s dismissal for 15 runs from 17 balls during India’s final group stage match against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy. The remarks, made before India’s semi-final against Australia, sparked nationwide outrage.
“I only want to say one thing, jisaka kaam usee ko saaje aur kare to danda baaje (the work only suits those to whom it belongs; if done by anyone else, it is ruined). Indian cricketers, people and the land are more dear to me than my own life. If someone in the political system makes such a statement about a player who has brought pride to our nation, that person should be ashamed,” he told ANI.
“They have no right to stay in our nation. Cricket is our religion; we lost against New Zealand and Australia, and a lot of things were said about Rohit and Virat. We stood up for them. I feel so sad. These things happen in Pakistan. Their former star player said, ‘Who will eat so many bananas?’ (Taking a jibe at Wasim Akram). Action should be taken. This should not be tolerated. If I were the Prime Minister, I would have said, Pack your bags and leave the country,” he added.
Shama later clarified her position in response to the backlash.
“It was a generic tweet about the fitness of a sportsperson. It was not body-shaming. I always believed a sports person should be fit, and I felt he was a bit overweight, so I just tweeted about that. I have been attacked for no reason. When I compared him with previous captains, I put in a statement. I have the right. What is wrong in saying that? It is a democracy.”