Smriti Irani, Priyanka Gandhi lock horns over IIIT

New Delhi/Rae Bareli: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and HRD minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday locked horns over an alleged delay in setting up an IIIT in Rae Bareli, the parliamentary constituency of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Ms Vadra, in Rae Bareli, said an IIIT was not being set up by the government. Ms Irani hit back, saying she had not done her “homework”. Ms Irani had Tuesday launched an attack on the Gandhi family, saying that after years of “hollow” promises, Amethi and Rae Bareli would finally see development now. Ms Vadra wanted to know from the minister what stopped her from setting up an IIIT in Rae Bareli.

“She is the HRD minister. First she should tell us why she is not setting up an IIIT here. The youth are facing a lot of problems and this is her department. Why is she not looking into it?” Ms Vadra said in Rae Bareli while interacting with reporters. She said people were facing problems and she (Ms Irani) was “deliberately” visiting the place.

Ms Irani, speaking in West Bengal’s Midnapore district, said, “Ms Vadra hasn’t done her homework. There is an off-campus of IIIT Allahabad in Amethi. Ms Irani said, “What is astounding is that while the Gandhi family has ruled the bastion for 60 years, they have done absolutely nothing. And now, a winning candidate is asking a losing candidate to develop his constituency — a constituency his family has been reigning in for over 60 years.”

The minister said she expected “such an attack” because she was in Amethi on Tuesday. “I have said this before, that at least due to my presence, Amethi will see more of the Gandhi family. And that statement of mine is turning out to be true,” she said, responding to a question on IIIT. The HRD minister wondered whether the Congress believes that “Mr Gandhi is not capable enough to defending his own turf that he needs additional ammunition.”