Smriti Irani is at it again as she made news on Tuesday for a Twitter war with Bihar's education minister, Ashok Choudhary.
Choudary took to Twitter to ask HRD minister about the new education policy and said this.
Dear @smritiirani ji, when will we get New Education policy..?
— Dr. Ashok Choudhary (@AshokChoudhaary) June 14, 2016
When will year 2015 end in your calendar..? https://t.co/X20LhUsvCt
Irani, who is known for reacting sharply to criticism on Twitter, gave it back to Choudary and things soon escalated.
@AshokChoudhaary mahilaon ko 'dear' keh ke kab se sambodhit karne lage Ashokji ?
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) June 14, 2016
@AshokChoudhaary all my communications to you or any other person start with 'adarniya' but since you are now communicating allow me 1/3
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) June 14, 2016
"@smritiirani ji has learnt a lot from Modiji...Fake promises and shifting blames to others for non-delivery is lesson1 in Sangh's book"
— Dr. Ashok Choudhary (@AshokChoudhaary) June 14, 2016
@smritiirani at least decide your stand.. I just shared you your ministery's link of our consultantion.. pls see that tweet again.
— Dr. Ashok Choudhary (@AshokChoudhaary) June 14, 2016
@AshokChoudhaary we invited Sir neither minister nor secretary education turned up. Entire proceedings were videographed. Plz.
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) June 14, 2016
Twitter soon erupted as many people came down harshly on Irani's response.
Mahila Mandali, aapko Dear kehene par koi aapati hai kya? pic.twitter.com/0a4djdq5zM
— SANJAY HEGDE (@sanjayuvacha) June 14, 2016
When an unfortunate bit of sarcasm starts a Twitter trend #SmritiIrani #OhDear
— Gargi Rawat (@GargiRawat) June 14, 2016
@smritiirani Here is another exception to protocol. Your minister also address as "Dear". #SmritiIrani pic.twitter.com/e4ifnPcA6E
— Shariq Ansar (@ShariqAnsar) June 14, 2016
She has a "Yale" degree and yet she finds it awkward being addressed "Dear"?
— Gaurav Chauhan (@gaurav2811) June 14, 2016
What did she studied in Yale? Sanskaarology?#SmritiIrani
Co-operative Fe-dear-lism #DearSmriti pic.twitter.com/2WOGjh8mhA
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) June 14, 2016
#DearSmriti. Overdose of Saas Bahu operas is detrimental to one's mental health. I hold you responsible for mass dumbing down of society.
— Zeyad Masroor Khan (@zeyadkhan) June 14, 2016
HRD stands for human resource development but after #DearSmriti i think it has changed to #HarRojDrama
— vandana sharma (@IndiaTv24) June 14, 2016
The answer to why #DearSmriti isn't a good thing to say can probably be answered by its #anagram: "I Smear Dirt"
— Ashwin S Kumar (@ashwinskumar) June 14, 2016
#DearSmriti! You had successfully diverted the main issue by objecting #Dear word. Good Job! You did whatever you want.
— Rajesh Meena (@Raj_m2112) June 14, 2016
Pyar se dar nahi lagata saahab…dear se lagta hai …Girl frm Yale. https://t.co/HYCZiCuOOQ
— jayant (@jayantsjy) June 14, 2016
#SmritiIrani Be Like
— Rahil Afridi (@afridi_rahil) June 14, 2016
Call Me #DearSmriti
I Dare You
I Double Dare You pic.twitter.com/LErEiP8gPC
The minister also recieved her fair share of support.
For once,get over the saas-Bahu opera nonsense & recognise her mettle.Constant dissing never helped nobody! #SmritiIrani #MHRD #DearSmriti
— Priyanjali Narain (@priyanjali_n) June 14, 2016
Every man/woman has inherent right to politely object to how they are addressed
— Ishkaran S. Bhandari (@Ish_Bhandari) June 15, 2016
But for some,this basic right not available to @smritiirani
Amazing elitist bias against minister @smritiirani if she doesn't prefer a certain way of being addressed, well within her rights !
— Hari Haran (@pseudosocialist) June 14, 2016
Speaking to the media later, Choudhary justified his tweet saying that the ‘dear’ was out of respect, and added “I don't know what she (Smriti Irani) found so offensive in 'Dear'. Don't think there is any kind of disrespect in this (word)…But I still apologise to Smriti Irani ji if I have hurt her feelings in any way.”