Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani and Bihar Education Minister Ashok Choudhary were locked in a bitter war of words on Twitter after the Congress leader addressed her as "dear".
Issues of etiquette in official communication also cropped up during the barrage of tweets unleashed against each other.
Choudhary in a tweet on Tuesday referred to the Human Resources Development(HRD) minister as "Dear" Smriti Irani ji and said that rather than focus on politics and speeches, she should pay attention to the New Education Policy (NEP).
Irani, who is currently touring Bihar, shot back asking Choudhary that since when did he begin addressing women as "dear". "Mahilaon ko 'dear' keh ke kab se sambodhit karne lage Ashokji?"
Choudhary, who is also the state president of Congress, responded that it was "Not to disrespect but educate... Professional emails start with "dear"." In his tweet, he asked Irani to answer the real issue and not "circle around it."
The war of words erupted on a day when Irani was on a visit to Bhagalpur in connection with "Vikash Parv" observed by BJP-led NDA on completion of two years in the office at the Centre.
