New Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and HRD Minister Smriti Irani were on Friday locked in a spat after protests by NSUI workers outside her official residence over derecognition of a student group by IIT Madras.

While Rahul said the derecognition was aimed at 'crushing dissent' and he will fight such attempts, Irani shot back challenging him for a debate on the issue of governance, including education, and accused him of fighting his battles hiding behind NSUI.