India
Irani took offence to being addressed with the honorific 'dear'.
Updated : Jun 14, 2016, 09:34 PM IST
On Tuesday, Union HRD minister Smriti Irani got into a Twitter battle with Bihar Congress president Dr Ashok Choudhary after she objected to being addressed as ‘dear'.
This led Choudhary to reply that professional mails started by addressing the recipient with the honorific dear and she should instead focus on her ministry. This led Irani to point out that Bihar was the only state that didn’t take part in grass root consultations for education policy. Choudhary wasn’t done though as he shared a link of the HRD’s ministry report of Bihar’s consultation on educational policies.
@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
@AshokChoudhaary Bihar is possibly the only state which has not done grass root consultations for the education policy 2/3
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) June 14, 2016
@AshokChoudhaary have not received state views on education policy neither did you in your 1 on 1 meeting with me give any suggestions 3/3
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) June 14, 2016
@AshokChoudhaary Sir I hope you do find time in your busy schedule to contribute to the education policy. Await state feedback.
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) June 14, 2016
@AshokChoudhaary Sir il make it public now - requested you to fill 2 lac teacher vacancies, land for KVs, CU Motihari.
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) June 14, 2016
@AshokChoudhaary would you rather Sir that I don't consult Bihar, if that is your stand then I shall comply though with a sense of regret.
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) 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
And turned into a grammar Nazi as well!
Grammar theek karo beta https://t.co/shpoOlnnEf
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) June 14, 2016
Smriti Irani’s Twitter battle came a day after Sushma Swaraj trolled a user who wanted help with a refrigerator.
Reacting to the incident, Ashok Choudhary apologised for his action. He told ANI: “I had very respectfully asked in a tweet "Dear Smriti ji, when is new Education policy going to come. Don't know what did she find so offensive in 'Dear'. Don't think there is any kind of disrespect in this. But I still apologize to Smriti Irani ji if I have hurt her feelings in any way.”
But I still apologize to Smriti Irani ji if I have hurt her feelings in any way: Bihar Education Min Ashok Choudhary pic.twitter.com/dpwNvzcxzY
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 14, 2016