Modi makes people at rally repeat they too are 'chowkidars'

Undeterred by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's oft-repeated 'chowkidar chor hai' jibe thrown at him, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday made people at a poll rally here to say multiple times that like him they and all starata of the society, too, are 'chowkidars'.

Gandhi, at his poll rallies, repeatedly raises his 'chowkidar chor hai' (watchman is a thief) slogan to attack Modi over alleged irregularities in the Rs 58,000-crore Rafale fighter jet deal with France.

Of late, the Congress leader says only the first word - 'chowkidar' - and prompts people at rallies to complete the slogan by shouting the rest of it - 'chor hai'.

Seeking to turn the table on Gandhi, the PM at a rally here Friday asked members of the gathering to say 'chowkidar' after his every sentence or word.

Modi said 'gaon gaon hai" and people replied, 'chowkidar'. The Prime Minister then said 'shahar shahar hai' and people replied in chorus 'chowkidar'.

Similarly, he said baccha baccha and people replied in unison 'chowkidar', doctor-engineer 'chowkidar', shikshak- 'chowkidar', mataye-bahne 'chowkidar', seema par bhi- 'chowkidar', khet-khalihan me bhi 'chowkidar', lekhak-patrakar 'chowkidar', vakil-vyapari 'chowkidar', chatra-chatrayen 'chowkidar' and pura Hindustan 'chowkidar'.

The PM has frequently addressed himself as a 'chowkidar' to underline his steadfast commitment to safeguard the country's interests.

Last month, the BJP stepped up its 'main bhi chowkidar' (I too am watchman) campaign with Modi and other party leaders, including its president Amit Shah, prefixing the word 'chowkidar' to their names in their Twitter profile as they sought people's support in the Lok Sabha elections.