In an attempt to step up his ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’ campaign in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with 25 lakh chowkidars across the country on the eve of Holi. Through an audio bridge, Modi kickstarted the interaction by extending Holi greetings to 25 lakh security guards across India.
Modi started by saying that he is blessed to get this opportunity to celebrate this festival of colours with 25 lakh watchmen across India.
Prime Minister, during his interaction firstly used the platform to apologise to the group for the phrase: “chowkidar chor hai (the watchman is a thief),” often used by Rahul Gandhi to target him.
“I apologise to all chowkidars that some people, for their own interests, have been abusing chowkidars and saying chowkidar chor hai, raising questions about the integrity of the chowkidars of the nation,” PM Modi said in a direct attack at Rahul Gandhi’s allegations.
Displaying his wit, he thanked the opposition, courtesy whom the word “chowkidar” has become popular all over the world. PM Modi said: “Maximum languages across the world have understood the word ‘chowkidaar’, it seems as if they all have accepted it in their vocabulary.”
“You must have noticed that these days everywhere it is you who is being discussed, be it TV or Twitter, be it in India or abroad. Today every Indian is saying ‘Main bhi Chowkidaar’,” said PM Modi.
PM Modi has an uncanny knack of converting opposition’s veil attacks to his benefit. In 2014 it was the “chaiwala’ jibe which he used as his campaigning theme and this time its the ‘chowkidaar’ jibe, which he has stylishly converted as a mass movement.
Prime Minister Modi kickstarted the 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign with launching ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’ campaign on Twitter. PM Modi had tweeted a video to remind everyone that their ‘Chowkidar’ (watchman) is standing firm and serving the nation.
Following this, senior BJP leaders, including party president Amit Shah, and Union ministers prefixed their names on the microblogging site with ‘chowkidar’, which turned out be an instant hit as it became a mass movement spontaneously after lakhs of common people joined the campaign.
Meanwhile, Modi went on to salute the security guards for their dedication and passion with which they work undeterred. “For you’ll your duty is the biggest festival”, said Modi, hailing them for their efforts.
During the interaction, his first caller, Renu Peter, who has been working as a security guard in Uttar Pradesh for nearly four years, expressed how she felt proud of being a security guard. However, she added that lately, people were casting aspersions on chowkidars like her, as politicians began to raise slogans such as ‘Chowkidar Chor Hain’, which made her feel bad about the prevailing hate against the ‘Chowkidars’.
Expressing her disappointment over the constant attack against chowkidars, she asked PM Modi whether jawans who are protecting our borders were also thieves.
Prime Minister apologised on behalf of the opposition and said he can understand the pain that resonates in the mind of crores of jawans, chowkidars, policemen. “I want to apologise as some people in the last few months for their vested interests have run a disinformation campaign against ‘chowkidars’. It is unfortunate that the language of these people has hurt you,” said PM Modi.
Attacking the opposition, PM Modi said that some leaders to fulfil their selfish goals pointed fingers against the integrity of chowkidars who protects the nation. “If these people had taken my name directly, there would have been no problem for you, but these are cowardly people who fear to attack me instead attacks Chowkidars like you,” said PM Modi.
“This is just the beginning, They will further go down to attack chowkidars as they are desperate. They will find new things and attack and humiliate every chowkidar,” slammed PM Modi in a reference to Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s constant utterance of ‘Chowkidar Chor Hain’ to target PM Modi.
“We should be fighting with all the courage by working responsibly. Look at the bright side. You must have noticed that these days everywhere it is you who is being discussed, be it TV or social media, be it in India or abroad. Today every Indian is saying ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’,” added Modi.
PM Modi said that this is not the first time that he is being humiliated by ‘Naamdars’, with reference to Rahul Gandhi. PM Modi added that there is a sense of intolerance against Kaamdhars. Nobody is bigger than the work they do. People will only remember someone for their work, added PM Modi.
Modi took this opportunity to introduce all his listeners to the brighter aspect of all the hullabaloo surrounding the word ‘chowkidar’. He said that at least now ‘all are vowing to become chowkidaars, the word has become synonymous to patriotism and honesty,” said the Prime Minister.
His next caller, Santosh Kumar from Odisha, who has been serving as a guard for the last 13 years, hailed Modi for the courageous retribution India gave as a befitting reply to Pakistan for the audacious Pulwama attack. Acknowledging Modi’s dedication towards the country, Santosh said that the Nation is undergoing a ‘Modi wave’ and assured Modi that the entire Nation was with him.
Thanking the caller, Modi hailed the Army for their efforts and dedication and for making it possible for India to fight back Pakistan’s audacious attempt to harm the country.
Expressing his shock at opposition’s reaction after IAF strike in Pakistan, Modi in a veiling attack said that the “people who support the Tukde Tukde gang couldn’t digest how are soldiers entered deep into the Pakistan soil and gave a befitting reply to their immorality”.
“Bombs fell in Pakistan, but people were heard yelling back in India. Surprisingly, if Pakistan is hurt, some people back in India feel the pain”, said Modi in a direct attack at the leftists and the Congress chattels.
PM Modi furthered that the people who questioned the air strike are being praised on the other side of the border.
Meanwhile, responding to his third caller, Sanmukh from Andhra Pradesh, Modi expressed his gratitude for likening him to all the other chowkidaars in the Nation. He said that everyone is fulfilling a certain duty, like teachers, doctors, soldiers, the Prime Minister, all are countries watchmen as they all are working and looking after the Nation and its citizens.
Modi assured that his government has relentlessly worked in the last five years to uplift the poor. His government has introduced various schemes like the Ayushman Bharat, various pension schemes, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana, all for the benefit of the poor and will continue to work until poverty is eradicated for the country, he assured.
Prime Minister reassured chowkidars that they need not worry, but only perform their duty.
As the country is gearing up for the Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi has smartly converted Rahul Gandhi’s slogan ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ to his benefit making it the flavour of the season.
As BJP is surging ahead with its political masterstroke ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’ campaign, Prime Minister Modi is all set to take it to the next level as he plans to interact with people from 500 different locations across the country on March 31.
