New Delhi: Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday got engaged in a war of words with Bihar Education Minister Ashok Choudhary on Twitter over using the salutation 'Dear' for the BJP leader.

Little did Choudhary know while questioning the HRD leader regarding the new education policy that his query would lead to a `Twitter war` with Irani.

Here are a series of tweets, which will explain the whole episode clearly:

Dear @smritiirani ji, when will we get New Education policy..?

When will year 2015 end in your calendar..? https://t.co/X20LhUsvCt — Dr. Ashok Choudhary (@AshokChoudhaary) June 14, 2016

The tweets exasperated Irani so much that she replied:

@AshokChoudhaary mahilaon ko 'dear' keh ke kab se sambodhit karne lage Ashokji ? — Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) June 14, 2016

Her pointing the word 'Dear' did not go down well with Twitteratis, who dug her earlier tweets in which she addressed men with the same salutation.

Here is how Twitteratis responded to the whole fiasco:

what is harm if you write minister as "Dear".This is basic professional courtesy.why Color with 'mahila' angle https://t.co/YpcPxy51OL — Vinod Kapri (@vinodkapri) June 14, 2016

Please note, @smritiirani prefers being called Aunty than be address as dear — Hypocrisy Watch (@bigotry_watch) June 14, 2016

Dear @Smritiirani please get yourself an education. You are so embarrassing. — Shehanshah Kewrious (@Kewrious) June 14, 2016

Dear @smritiirani, dear @narendramodi is not following your prescribed protocol regarding the usage of 'dear' :( pic.twitter.com/2GDogh3xpW — Truth Of Gujarat (@TruthOfGujarat) June 14, 2016