Congress president Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday advised HRD minister Smriti Irani to concentrate on her core work and improve the state of education in the country. The 43-year-old hit out at Irani, saying, "The minister is answerable as to why there is still no IIIT in Amethi."

Priyanka, who is on a two-day visit to Rae Bareli and Amethi, said, "Since she (Smriti Irani) is trying to do something for Amethi, it'll be good if she does something about the IIIT. Since she's the education minister she should try to improve the state of education." Priyanka rejected the notion that her visit to Amethi, which is her brother Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha constituency, was in response to Irani's recent tours.

She also refused to make any comment on the Amethi food park issue, saying, "Frankly, I don't know what's the progress on it right now."

Smriti Irani hits back

Replying to Priyanka's questions, Smriti Irani told India Today TV that she (Priyanka) is probably clueless about the IIIT issue.

"I think that Mrs (Priyanka (Gandhi) Vadra has not done her homework. Now for the first time a winning candidate is asking a losing candidate for development having ruled for so many years," Irani said.

It is astounding that while the Gandhi family has ruled that bastion (Amethi, Rae Bareli) for 60 years they have done nothing, the minister added.

Irani also questioned Priyanka's sudden visit, saying "Is Rahul (Gandhi) not capable enough to defend his own turf that he needs additional ammunition?"

"How time flies. Priyanka did not know who I was," Irani said. When asked about Irani during 2014 general elections campaigning, Priyanka had said, "Who Smriti Irani?"

On Tuesday, Irani had launched a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi and accused him doing nothing for the people of the area. "For 10 years farmers of Amethi demanded a railway rack of fertilizer. I made that promise 10 days ago and the first rack arrived at Gauriganj yesterday," the minister had said, adding, "the promises they haven't fulfilled in 10 years, we have fulfilled in 10 days."

"The love that Amethi's people have given to politicians has never been returned," Irani said while describing herself as Amethi's daughter.