Shortly after the Congress vice-president posted his outrage, Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani went online.

Arch rivals Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Human Resource Development Smriti Irani took to Twitter on Friday to fire salvos at each other over the controversial decision by the IIT Madras administration to ban Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle, a group of nearly 20 students at the premier institution, after an "anonymous complaint" against them was sent to the central government alleging the group had criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

While Rahul said the de-recognition was aimed at "crushing dissent" and he will fight such attempts, Irani shot back challenging him for a debate on the issue of governance, including education, and accused him of fighting his battles hiding behind NSUI, the student wing of the Congress.





IIT student group banned for criticizing Modi Government. What next? (1/2) Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) May 29, 2015

Free speech is our right. We will fight any attempt to crush dissent and debate: Rahul Gandhi (2/2) Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) May 29, 2015

Shortly after the Congress vice-president posted his outrage, Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani went online and serial tweeted the following:





@OfficeofRG next time fight ur battles ur self don't hide behind NSUI. N by d way I'm b returning to Amethi soon. See you there. Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) May 29, 2015





@OfficeofRG give me a time n place n I'm ready to debate everything re governance including education. Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) May 29, 2015





@OfficeofRG tell ur men strong arm tactics were tried in Amethi n didn't scare me during Lok Sabha elections. They won't scare me now. Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) May 29, 2015









@OfficeofRG yesterday u told NSUI to create disorder where there is order. Today ur goons come to my house as I'm away at work. Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) May 29, 2015

On Friday, the Congress had taken its protest against the ban on the IIT group to Irani's door, with students belonging to the National Students Union of India (NSUI) demonstrating outside her official residence in New Delhi. They were demanding that the circular banning the group be withdrawn.



