Human Resource Development minister Smriti Irani lashed out at a journalist on Twitter on Monday over a report that suggested that she made over 5,000 recommendations for admission to the Central government-run Kendriya Vidyalaya schools. 

The report in The Economic Times on Monday claimed the HRD Minister made 5,100 requests for admissions at Kendriya Vidyalayas for the 2015-16 academic year. 

Smriti Irani is the chairperson of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, which runs about 1,000 schools in the country. The report also said that at an HRD meeting last month, the admission quota for MPs was increased to ten per year as compared to six previously.

"Her action only serves to promote a culture of patronage," the ET report said. 

Irani took to Twitter on Monday to call the report a 'source-based lie' and expressed contempt over it. 

"All admissions r recorded as per requests frm MPs across parties+Bpl families. Ur source based lie as usual ignores facts (sic)," Irani told the reporter. 

The journalist responded by saying that she had not received any response from the HRD ministry. She also added that she had 'utmost respect' for the HRD minister. 

Smriti Irani, however, was in no mood for conciliation, telling the reporter that she did not care if she respected her or not. 

Here is the Twitter thread of Irani's spat with the reporter: 

Smriti Irani has slammed journalists and publications on previous occasions too. Last year, she had lashed out at a reporter of another leading daily for 'deliberately misreporting' that CBSE schools had been asked to remain open for Christmas. 

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