New Delhi: Taking Congress’ “chowkidar chor hai” barb head-on, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a social media campaign #MainBhiChowkidar, asking people to pledge their support against “corruption, dirt, social evils” and to work hard for the progress of India. The campaign reminded many of the BJP’s 2014 Lok Sabha campaign strategy around the Opposition party’s “chaiwala” barb that had prompted the BJP to launch its successful “Chai pe charcha” campaign to connect with voters and register a landslide victory.
The Congress often accuses the Prime Minister of corruption in Rafale fighter jet deal, using the barb “chowkidar chor hai (watchman is a thief)” after Mr Modi had called himself a “chowkidar” of the nation.
In his four-minute social media video on Saturday, Mr Modi said, “Your chowkidar is standing firm and serving the nation. But, I am not alone. Everyone who is fighting corruption, dirt, social evils is a chowkidar. Everyone working hard for the progress of India is a chowkidar. Today, every Indian is saying #MainBhiChowkidar.”
The video begins with Mr Modi saying “Aap ashwast rahiyein, aap ka yeh chowkidar poori tarah se chaukanna hai (Rest assured, you chowkidar is alert).”
The BJP’s “Main Bhi Chowkidar” campaign became Twitter’s top worldwide trend, hours after launch. The video shared by Mr Modi, featuring a song with lyrics showcasing the Modi government’s initiatives, racked up more than 50,000 likes and 19,000 retweets on the micro-blogging website.
