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 strata 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 safeguarding 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.