Smriti Irani involved in an unseemly Twitter war with Congress spokesperson

NEW DELHI: HRD Minister Smriti Irani got involved in a nasty Twitter duel with Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi after a post on how she was being trolled and threatened with rape and ‘brutal killing like Nirbhaya" for an opinion piece.

The minister hit back, taking a jibe at Congress' recent poll setbacks. Here's what happened:

My opinion piece: facing threats on social media from the RW trolls and Mr.Jaitley you can't pass the buck on this. https://t.co/P7REJdXT0r

— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) May 21, 2016

A self-professed BJP supporter then asked Chaturvedi - apropos of nothing -why 'slander' against Irani is seen as acceptable but the Congress worker being trolled should be seen as an insult to women.

When @priyankac19 is trolled, it is an attack on 'dignity of women'but poisonous slander against @smritiirani is acceptable.

— Shefali Vaidya (@ShefVaidya) May 23, 2016

To which, Chaturvedi said that Irani gets Z level security if her life is as much as threatened while she's having trouble getting threats against her investigated.

Ms @ShefVaidya a perceived threat to @smritiirani 's life gets Z sec,here I am struggling to get rape/death threat investigated.cut the crap

— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) May 23, 2016

This is when the HRD Minister steps in.

@priyankac19 I don't have Z security Madam.

— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) May 23, 2016

Madam I don't know the internal workings of Home Ministry, i go as per newspaper reports. I presume no security at all then @smritiirani ?

— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) May 23, 2016

@priyankac19 why are you so interested in my security? Planning anything?

— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) May 23, 2016

Not worth my time , so don't worry on that front @smritiirani , you must concentrate on creating another campus ruckus.

— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) May 23, 2016

@priyankac19 dats more Rahulji's forte. Oh wait, losing Assam is. My bad. Have a good day.

— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) May 23, 2016

Repeatedly losing and yet becoming a minister in the cabinet is your forte. You have a glorious day too @smritiirani

— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) May 23, 2016