At a time when "#MaiBhiChowkidar" campaign is trending with BJP cadres prefixing 'chowkidar' to their names on Twitter, Haryana Minister Anil Vij on Tuesday targeted Congress, saying that its workers should add "Pappu" to their names over which BJP will have no objection.
At a time when "#MaiBhiChowkidar" campaign is trending with BJP cadres prefixing 'chowkidar' to their names on Twitter, Haryana Minister Anil Vij on Tuesday targeted Congress, saying that its workers should add "Pappu" to their names over which BJP will have no objection.
"We have added # chowkidar to our names and you have a problem with that. You should also prefix # Pappu to your names and we will have no objection," Vij tweeted.
'Pappu' is used by BJP to mock Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
Gandhi and several Congress have targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over alleged corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal, saying "chowkidar chor hai".
'MainBhiChowkidar' campaign was launched on Saturday to further the narrative of the Prime Minister on graft. A day after the launch of the campaign, Prime Minister Modi and top BJP leaders such as Amit Shah, Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan and JP Nadda added the prefix 'chowkidar' to their Twitter handles.
1. #MainBhiChowkidar campaign
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Earlier PM Modi tweeted, "Fellow Indians, Happy that #MainBhiChowkidar has ignited the Chowkidar within all of us. Great fervour! Ecstatic to see the passion and commitment to protect India from corrupt, criminal and anti-social elements. Let us keep working together for a developed India."
Modi also retweeted tweets of various people who used the hashtag #MainBhiChowkidaar in order to show their support to the campaign.
Ministers, BJP supporters and many others have put 'chowkidar' before their name on Twitter as a mark of support.
2. PM tweets video
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On Saturday, the Prime Minister had tweeted a video showing how all Indians are chowkidars while flagging off the BJP's poll campaign.
"Your Chowkidar is standing firm & 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," he tweeted.
3. Cong hit back
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Meanwhile, opposition Congress leaders hit out at the BJP's chowkidar campaign. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the 'truth cannot be extinguished' and the prefix is 'looking bad.'
"You can keep trying Mr Modi, but the truth cannot be extinguished. Every Indian is saying it. #ChowkidarChorHai P.S: Do force Sushma ji to add "Chowkidar" to her handle. It's looking very bad," Gandhi posted on twitter.
Congress general secretary in-charge of western Uttar Pradesh Jyotiraditya Scindia asked who would save the country if 'Chowkidars' are like him. Former Finance Minister tweeted "Main bhi chowkidar because the chowkidar I had appointed is missing. I am told he has gone looking for achhe din."
Congress had been attacking the government and PM Modi with its "Chowkidarchor hai" slogan.
SP leader Akhilesh Yadav too hit out at the BJP and in a tweet in hindi said, "It's easy to call yourself watchman on social media. But one should listen to the voice of the youth who are not able to get jobs, and doing chowkidari. 'MainBhiChowkidar' is a disrespect to farmers who are forced tot toil overnight on their farms The country does not need a 'prachar' minister but a prime minister, the former UP chief minister posted.
The origin of the word 'chowkidar' dates back to the poll campaigning ahead of the 2014 general elections when Modi had promised to work as a 'chowkidar' to guard the people's money and their trust once elected to the top office.
4. Campaign after expensive survey
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'Main Bhi Chowkidar' has been started after extensive surveys and data analysis by BJP strategists who feel that Congress president Rahul Gandhi's 'chowkidar chor hai' jibe and campaign is not resonating among people. The surveys also suggested that it is actually angering people in the country, according to a release.
This campaign is expected to drive the narrative of the Prime Minister's strong and decisive image which multiple surveys have conveyed is the main factor in the upcoming elections, the release mentioned.
Under the aegis of this campaign, the BJP has leveraged a tech innovation called conversation cards on Twitter, whereby people will get a personalized message from the Prime Minister on Twitter on participating in this campaign.
Prime Minister Modi is slated to interact with people from across the country on March 31 as a part of this campaign.
