Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani's seeming insensitivity towards a Congress spokesperson who had been threatened online with sexual violence sparked a Twitter war of words on Monday morning
The face-off started when a Twitter user made a reference to an opinion piece written by Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi in which she mentions being threatened by a Twitter user last week with rape and murder and a fate “like Nirbhaya”.
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 columnist for Swarajya, a self-professedly right-wing publication, offered this response.
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
Chaturvedi attempted to point out the difference in the two situations.
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
That's when the Union minister decided to step into the conversation.
@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
Twitter users weren't pleased by Irani's lack of sympathy for a woman being trolled on social media.
Bizarre that Union Minister @smritiirani ji instead of offering help to a victim of rape threat, trolls about 'Z security' status #AccheDin
— Siddharth Mazumdar (@mazumdar_sid) May 23, 2016
.@smritiirani a woman has been told that "she should be raped like Nirbhaya & killed" & all you can do is mock her? https://t.co/PYw1tUKJsg
— swati chaturvedi (@bainjal) May 23, 2016
Is that all you could think of responding, Hon'ble minister @smritiirani ?
— Sunil Varma (@the_sunilvarma) May 23, 2016
Not a word of concern for a person threatened?@priyankac19
@JantaKaReporter @priyankac19 what level of cabinet ministers you have Mr. Modi.. Applause. Couldn't have expected more out of #SmritiIrani
— Somya Singh (@Somya_majestic) May 23, 2016
To be fair, it is students who might be concerned about their security with Smriti Irani as HRD Minister https://t.co/5s3SL2vvUu
— Joy (@Joydas) May 23, 2016
A few hours later, Irani tried to strike a half-way conciliatory note.
@mihirssharma irrespective of ideology no one should be subject to abuse or threats. And authorities should immediately be informed.
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) May 23, 2016