Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi greeted teachers on Thursday, Teachers’ Day, describing them as “true nation-builders”. But her son Rahul Gandhi used the occasion to take a dig at his opponents.

“On the occasion of Teachers’ Day, I extend my best wishes to all students and teachers. Our teachers are true nation-builders because they have the important responsibility to shape the future of our country and to show them the right path of honesty,” Ms. Gandhi said in a statement.

“Teachers instil hope in their students, ignite imagination and increase their learning ability,” she said.

Mr. Gandhi took a dig at his opponents for teaching him to be stronger through their “vicious barbs and false propaganda”. “On Teachers’ Day, I thank all those from whom I’ve learnt, over the years. That includes the army of social media trolls, some journalists-with-an-agenda and my political adversaries, whose vicious barbs, false propaganda and anger has taught me a lot and made me much stronger,” he wrote on Twitter.