Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani, known for her epic Twitter replies, proved yet again that she is not someone who can be easily taken down by trolls.
It all began when she took offence at Bihar's Education Minister Ashok Choudhary addressing her as 'Dear Smritiji'.
@AshokChoudhaary mahilaon ko 'dear' keh ke kab se sambodhit karne lage Ashokji ?— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) June 14, 2016
After which she got trolled right, left and centre.
Dear @smritiirani ji, I think Asha Bhosle is a "mahila" too.Mind asking the same Q to Modi ji?#Yale @AshokChoudhaary pic.twitter.com/wmF8R0BKXg— Pankaj Mishra (@pankajmishra23) June 14, 2016
@smritiirani setting a bad example ma'am. Anyways women are feeling victimized by just "Hi" and now you trash dear @AshokChoudhaary— Deepika Bhardwaj (@DeepikaBhardwaj) June 14, 2016
Here is another exception to protocol. Own party members can address her as "dear". h/t & image via @scotchism pic.twitter.com/3JAWWl6a7i— SamSays (@samjawed65) June 14, 2016
She finally decided to answer back and took to Facebook to express her anger and say it out loud that she's had enough.
In her long piece on Facebook, Irani pointed out that the minister in question offered 'mumbled apologies' and called it her 'near Jerry Maguire-like moment.
"As the politician mumbled apologies and explained his “position" regarding the twitter spat to my state leader on the mobile while our contingent drove back from Bhagalpur last night; I watched his supporters trend a hashtag in my name, irrespective of their neta’s public apology. As those who scream murder and whip themselves up into a feminist frenzy at the drop of a hat tried to “endear" themselves to me on Twitter, I reflected on the near “Jerry Maguire" like moment that was upon me."
In the post she spoke about her life and career, recalling the struggles and difficulties she has had to face to 'make a mark'. She also spoke about women's rights, and how girls are brought up in a middle-class environment where they are taught to stay mum when humiliated.
"Don’t respond or retort no matter how humiliated you feel. But there would be those rebellious kinds (yours truly included), who would question why? Why not respond? Why zip it? The standard answer such a question begets is “It is not worth it. Nuksaan tumhara hoga , ladke ka kuch nahi bigadega."
Before she signed off her post as 'Aunty National', the minister listed out her achievements as a TV star, and as a politician who worked 'from the grassroots up'. She mentioned all her credentials, pointing out that she was the youngest woman to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha.
"You grow up and become a TV star. But while you still struggle to make a mark you are advised that if you go to parties and mingle enough, you shall get work."
"And then politics happens. Not when you are a fading star, not when you are unemployed but when you are at the peak of your success. You are given the hard battles to fight, you accept (Chandini Chowk & Amethi were no cakewalk my friends). You work from the grassroots up."
The minister also did not forget to slam all the “intellectual" people who called her “anpad" when she was made the HRD minister.
"You represent your Nation in the International Parliamentary Union, get unanimously elected to represent the Asia Pacific region, become part of the drafting committee on the Syrian crisis and yet some “intellectual" says “anpad" the minute you are given the opportunity to serve as HRD Minister."
Here's Smriti Irani's full post which has been shared over 3,700 times.