With Smriti Irani, Ashok Choudhary locked in Twitter battle over 'Dear', Tejashwi Yadav gives a casteist twist – Here's what he said

Patna: As Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani and Bihar Education Minister Ashok Choudhary were on Tuesday locked in a bitter war of words on Twitter after the Congress leader addressed her as "dear", Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav tried to turn the fiasco into a casteist battle between the two leaders.

Taking pot shots at Irani, the youngest son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav tweeted: “Just asking out of curiosity is "Dear" an offensive word or it becomes wen a minister frm dalit community calls so?”

“Dear Madam @smritiirani Ji, Glad u r in Bihar.Welcome! OBCs want reply from u. Will u give reservation to OBC in AssoProf & Prof ?@PMOIndia,” his another tweeted read.

Dear Madam @smritiirani Ji, Glad u r in Bihar.Welcome! OBCs want reply from u. Will u give reservation to OBC in AssoProf & Prof ?@PMOIndia

— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) June 14, 2016

Just asking out of curiosity is "Dear" an offensive word or it becomes wen a minister frm dalit community calls so? https://t.co/xY2tBw9C5m

— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) June 14, 2016

The RJD leader's reaction came as the controversy surrounding Irani and Choudhary became the trending topic on Twitter.

The whole episode started after Choudhary, a Congress leader, questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party leader regarding the the new education policy.

Here are a series of tweets, which would explain the entire episode.

"Dear .@smritiirani ji, कभी राजनीति और भाषण से वक़्त मिले तो शिक्षा निति की तरफ भी ध्यान दें"

— Dr. Ashok Choudhary (@AshokChoudhaary) June 14, 2016

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

However, the Dear word mentioned in the tweet didn't go down well with the HRD Minister. She hit back tweeting:

@AshokChoudhaary mahilaon ko 'dear' keh ke kab se sambodhit karne lage Ashokji ?

— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) June 14, 2016

But to her surprise, the Twitteratis reacted strongly to her reaction on Choudhary's tweets. 

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

Respected @smritiirani ji,a few days I sent an email 2 ur ministry which starts with "dear".Ghussa mat karna I will correct it & resend it

— Santoesha Bissesar (@MsSantoesha) June 14, 2016