Chowkidar Chor Hai: Difference between revisions
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Rahul also assured the bench that he will not attribute his political views to the court unless it made any such statement itself. |
Rahul also assured the bench that he will not attribute his political views to the court unless it made any such statement itself. |
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Soon after Rahul filed his affidavit in court, the BJP claimed the Congress chief's apology was proof of vindication in the case, and that Rahul stands "exposed" on his "blatant lies and false claims" made with regard to the Rafale case. |
Soon after Rahul filed his affidavit in court, the BJP claimed the Congress chief's apology was proof of vindication in the case, and that Rahul stands "exposed" on his "blatant lies and false claims" made with regard to the Rafale case..<ref name="bbc_audiolink">{{Cite news |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/lok-sabha-election-rajnandgaon-farmers-rue-poor-implementation-of-schemes-criticise-congress-and-bjp-for-unkept-promises-6495811.html/amp |title=Rahul Gandhi apologises for attributing 'chowkidar chor hai' remarks to Supreme Court, says he made statement in 'heat of the moment' |date=2019-04-22 |access-date=2019-04-22 |language=en-GB}}</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 17:30, 22 April 2019
 | A request that this article title be changed to Main Bhi Chowkidar is under discussion. Please do not move this article until the discussion is closed. |
Chowkidar Chor Hai (Template:Lang-hi, transl. "The watchman is a thief") is a Hindi slogan used by the INC in its campaign for the 2019 Indian general election. The slogan was coined by the Congress' Prime Ministerial candidate Rahul Gandhi as a counter slogan against the ruling BJP' sitting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the intention of conveying that the person who was entrusted with safeguarding public money was in fact a thief.
Background
Narendra Modi has often referred to himself as a "chowkidar" (watchman) inferring that he would not allow any corruption in the country.[1] While campaigning for the 2014 Indian general election Modi in his speeches had promised that he would serve the country, not as a Prime Minister, but as a watchman. Modi further added that as a watchman he would never allow anyone to put their paws on the public money.[2] Rahul Gandhi had referred to Modi as Chowkidar during his campaign for the 2017 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election.[3]
Slogan
The slogan "Chowkidar Chor Hai" was coined by Rahul Gandhi, the Congress' Prime Ministerial candidate as a jibe against Narendra Modi, BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2019 Indian general election.[4] The Hindi slogan translates to "The watchman is a thief."[5] It was aimed at Modi in relation to the alleged irregularities and favouritism in awarding of the contracts related to the Rafale fighter jet deal.[1][6] On 14 December, Gandhi stated that Chowkidar chor hai and his party will prove the corruption that was done in the Rafale deal.[7] The government has denied any wrongdoing in the Rafale deal and the case is being heard by the Supreme Court of India.[8] Rahul Gandhi in one of his rallies compared it with BJP's 2014 Indian general election slogan "Achhe din aane waale hain" by stating slogan "Achhe din aayenge" has now changed to "Chowkidar chor hai".[9] Later in Nagpur, Gandhi stated that an enquiry will be done after that election post which, "the Chowkidar will go to jail".[10]
On 20 November Rahul Gandhi commented that a crime thriller titled "Chowkidar hi chor hai" is being played out in Delhi and in its most recent episode, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Deputy inspector general of police, Manoj Sinha had made allegations of corruption against senior government officials in his affidavit to the Supreme Court, meanwhile his "partner from Gujarat" was amassing enormous wealth.[11] Sinha had stated that government officials and ministers were interfering in the investigation against CBI special director Rakesh Asthana.[11]
On 24 December 2018, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray while addressing a rally in Maharashtra state's Pandharpur town, repeated the slogan "Chowkidar chor hai". He elaborated the slogan with a story about a farmer whose Neem plants were attacked by the pests. This was unusual because Neem tree extracts are traditionally used in India for repelling the pests. Thackeray then stated that "this is what is happening everywhere and even those, tasked with protection, are stealing these days."[4]
On 25 March, the slogan Chowkidar chor hai was raised by the audience during the fourth cricket match of IPL 2019 at Jaipur.[12]
Response
On 18 November 2018, during a BJP election rally in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, responding to the repeated chowkidar chor hai slogan against him, Modi stated that the "Naamdaar" (dynast) and the congress party were hurling abuses at him.[5]
Impact of the Slogan
In the 2018 legislative assembly elections held in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram, the slogan was widely & enthusiastically raised by Rahul Gandhi and all the star campaigners of the congress in every election rally. The congress won the elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, giving a huge setback to the ruling BJP in these states.
Main Bhi Chowkidar
On 14 March 2019, Modi responded to the jibe by launching a campaign with the slogan "Main Bhi Chowkidar" (Template:Lang-hi, transl. "I too am a watchman") for his supporters, implying that everyone is a fighter against corruption and social evils.[1][6] Modi even changed the name of his official twitter handle titled 'Narendra Modi' to 'Chowkidar Narendra Modi'.[13]
In a coordinated campaign, ministers, party president Amit Shah and other BJP leaders such as Piyush Goyal changed their twitter profile names by adding a prefix "Chowkidar".[14] Many supporters of BJP also changed their names accordingly.[15] Modi addressed a large group of watchmen on audio link as part of the campaign.[16]
Rahul Gandhi Apologizes For The Slogan In Supreme Court
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday filed his response to the Supreme Court's notice on his comments on the sub-judice case of the Rafale fighter jet deal, saying he had made the 'chowkidar chor hai' remarks "in the heat of the moment". BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi had sought contempt action against Rahul for misattributing his remarks to the top court.
In his reply, Rahul said he got carried away while campaigning and "unfortunately", the media "mingled" his words. He expressed regret for dragging the top court's name into the comments he made a week ago and also admitted that the Supreme Court had never used the phrase "chowkidar chor hai", which he reiterates at every campaign rally accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of stealing from the poor and handing doles to the rich.
Rahul also assured the bench that he will not attribute his political views to the court unless it made any such statement itself.
Soon after Rahul filed his affidavit in court, the BJP claimed the Congress chief's apology was proof of vindication in the case, and that Rahul stands "exposed" on his "blatant lies and false claims" made with regard to the Rafale case..[16]
References
- ^ a b c "Narendra Modi urges supporters to take 'main bhi chowkidar' pledge". telegraphindia.com. 16 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
- ^ चमड़िया, अनिल (20 March 2019). "'मैं भी चौकीदार' vs 'चौकीदार चोर है' की जंग". Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ a b "'Chowkidar Chor Hai': Uddhav Thackeray Uses Rahul Gandhi's Jibe To Attack Modi". HuffPost India. 25 December 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
- ^ a b "After repeated 'chowkidar chor hai' jibes, Narendra Modi in Madhya Pradesh says Congress, its 'naamdar' hurling abuses at him". Firstpost. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
- ^ a b "India's watchmen question whether Modi embrace will improve their lot". Reuters. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
- ^ "राफेल मामले पर बोले राहुल, चौकीदार ही चोर है ये हम साबित करके रहेंगे- Amarujala". Amar Ujala. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
- ^ India, Press Trust of (17 March 2019). "Cong slams BJP's Main Bhi Chowkidar campaign". Business Standard India. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
- ^ "Slogan 'Acche din aayenge' has changed to 'Chowkidar chor hai': Rahul Gandhi". The Indian Express. 16 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
- ^ "After elections, chowkidar will go to jail: Rahul Gandhi in Nagpur". The Indian Express. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ a b "'Chowkidar hi Chor Hain, Crime Thriller Playing Out in Delhi': Rahul Gandhi Targets PM Modi". News18. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
- ^ टीम, फ़ैक्ट चेक (27 March 2019). "IPL-2019 में 'चौकीदार चोर है' के नारे!". BBC. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
- ^ "'Chowkidar Narendra Modi': PM changes Twitter handle name to counter Rahul Gandhi's chor jibe". The Economic Times. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
- ^ "मोदी 'चौकीदार' तो 'चौकीदार का मालिक' कौन". 19 March 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ "In A New Gimmick, PM Changes Twitter Profile Name To 'Chowkidar Narendra Modi'". 17 March 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ a b "Mayawati delivers election shock". 20 March 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019. Cite error: The named reference "bbc_audiolink" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).