Union Human Resource Minister Smriti Irani has once again found herself amidst fresh controversy, first allegedly hoisting the national flag upside down and then because of a poetry replete with sycophancy recited by a Vice Chancellor in her praise.
Irani was in Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh to to lay the foundation stone of a Kendriya Vidyalaya building, where she allegedly hoisted the tricolour upside down.
The minister has not commented on this development, which, as expected, has become a subject of ridicule on social media platforms. (See twitter comments below).
Irani was also the chief guest at a university in Lucknow on Sunday. The VC of Babasahab Bhim Rao Ambedkar University recited a poem in her praise that left the HRD minister red-faced.
In his ;poem, the VC described Irani the ‘maharani (queen) of TV’ and how the world was crazy about her and she possessed ‘noorani (radiant)’ face.
“Kabhi Haari nahi woh jo TV ki maharani hai,
Bharat ki dikhaayi sanskriti, jiski duniya deewani hai……
Jis ki baaton mein hai dam kham, jiska chehra noorani hai”
(This queen of TV has never conceded defeats. She has shown the world Indian culture and the world is crazy about her. She carries weight in her talks and she possesses radiant face.)
Social media users have been quick to react to both these developments.
A visibly embarrassed minister reportedly told the VC that he ought to have been in politics.
Here are some of the tweets:
Smriti Irani insults the National Flag. But, how dare you question her "patriotism"?
— عارف (@Arifuddin_Moh) January 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/coughill/status/686476409787826176
Our HRD minister @smritiirani salutes the upside down National Flag
Bravo to her
It can possible only in BJP Rule pic.twitter.com/hdY5lFKTKZ— Azaz Shaikh ऐजाज़ शेख (@AzazShaikhIYC) January 11, 2016
स्मृति ईरानी के कार्यक्रम में फहराया गया उलटा तिरंगा https://t.co/ZDJXTfLckC
— कुलदीप कादयान (@KuldeepKadyan) January 11, 2016
Flag Hosting In Wrong Direction In Program Of Smriti Irani https://t.co/j04KKe02n1 via @sharethis
— Dharmendra Pandey (@Dharm0912) January 10, 2016
New Low:
VC of university sings
Smriti Irani: टीवी की महारानी, चेहरा नूरानी
Read the full poem via Navbharat Times pic.twitter.com/8gxmCGnEGp— सीधी-बात سیدھا بات (@nikhilesh01) January 11, 2016
कुलपति ने स्मृति ईरानी को बताया टीवी की महारानी, चेहरा नूरानी। लेकिन कुलपति की तारीफ में तो शब्द ही कम पड़ रहे हैं। https://t.co/a0tWGWzEXp
— Puspendra Kumar (@puspendra_k) January 10, 2016
युवक युवतियों का भविष्य दाव पर अपनी नौकरी पक्की चमचे की! https://t.co/qVrfIXJfDi
— yoginder (@yoginder2057) January 10, 2016
Superb poem praising beloved Smritiji ,by VC Lucknow ,is outstanding every word describes my lovely @smritiirani !!! Feeling very happy
— Sheetal R Sachde (@SheetalSachde) January 10, 2016