‘She’ll Fight Back’: Smriti Irani Stands Up to Daughter’s Bullies

Zoish Irani was mocked in school for a picture her mother had posted on Instagram.

A picture of Smriti Irani with her daughter Zoish.

(Photo Courtesy: Instagram/@smritiiraniofficial)

Union minister Smriti Irani defended her daughter against bullies with a strong post on Instagram on Friday, 21 June, after her daughter was humiliated and mocked in school.

“I deleted my daughter’s selfie yesterday coz an idiot bully in her class, A Jha, mocks her for her looks and tells his pals in class to humiliate her for how she looks in her mother’s insta post (sic).”

Smriti Irani on Instagram

She added that her daughter had asked her to delete the post, which she did. "I obliged coz I could not stand her tears (sic)," the Women and Child Development and Textiles Minister said.

However, she added, she realised that her act of deleting the post actually empowered her daughter’s bully.

"Then I realised my act just supported the bully," she wrote, posting a picture of her daughter on Instagram.

“My daughter is an accomplished sportsperson, record holder in Limca Books, 2 Nd Dan black belt in Karate, at the World Championships has been awarded bronze medal twice; is a loving daughter and yes damn beautiful (sic).”

Smriti Itani

She listed out her daughter's achievements, and said she will fight back.

"Bully her all you want, she will fight back. She is Zoish Irani and I'm proud to be her Mom," she concluded her post, adding a heart emoji at the end.

The post got a lot of praise from fellow Instagrammers. “More power to you”, said one while another said, “ ZOISH is so damn gorgeous❤ sending hugs.”

Later, the Union Minister put up a funny gif on Instagram and captioned it, “When you have had enough activism for the day.”