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{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Italics title}}
'''''Chowkidar Chor Hai''''' ({{lang-hi|चौकीदार चोर है|translation=The watchman is a thief}}) is a [[Hindi]] slogan used by the [[Indian National Congress|Indian National Congress (INC)]] in its election campaign for the [[2019 Indian general election]]. The slogan was coined by the then INC president, [[Rahul Gandhi]], against the ruling [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) affiliated sitting Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]], after raising allegations of favouritism and price escalation in the [[Rafale deal controversy|Dassault Rafale deal]]. The slogan was coined with the intention of conveying that the person who was entrusted with safeguarding public money (i.e. the watchman) was in fact a thief; context being that PM Modi had in past claimed to be a ''"chowkidar"'' of the nation.

==Background==
Narendra Modi has often referred to himself as a "''chowkidar''" (watchman) inferring that he would not allow any corruption in the country.<ref name="telegraphindia16March" /> 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.<ref name="Navbharat22Sept">{{cite news |title=राहुल गांधी के 'चौकीदार ही चोर है' बयान को इस तरह भुनाएगी बीजेपी |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/metro/delhi/politics/bjp-to-play-with-rahul-gandhis-chowkidar-remark-in-its-favour/articleshow/65909140.cms |accessdate=18 March 2019 |work=Navbharat Times |date=22 September 2018 |language=hi}}</ref> Rahul Gandhi had referred to Modi as ''chowkidar'' during his campaign for the [[2017 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election]].<ref name="bbc_20March">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/hindi/india-47635495 |title='मैं भी चौकीदार' vs 'चौकीदार चोर है' की जंग |last=चमड़िया |first=अनिल |date=2019-03-20 |access-date=2019-03-20 |language=hi}}</ref>

== Slogan ==
The slogan "''Chowkidar Chor Hai''" was coined by Gandhi as a jibe against Modi while campaigning for [[2018 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Rahul calls PM 'chor,' draws flak from BJP |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/rahul-calls-pm-chor-draws-flak-from-bjp201809202229300001/ |work=Asian News International |date=20 September 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="HuffPost25Dec">{{cite news |title='Chowkidar Chor Hai': Uddhav Thackeray Uses Rahul Gandhi's Jibe To Attack Modi |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/chowkidar-chor-hai-uddhav-thackeray-uses-rahul-gandhis-jibe-to-attack-modi_in_5c213722e4b08aaf7a8b856f |accessdate=18 March 2019 |work=HuffPost India |date=25 December 2018 |language=en}}</ref> The Hindi slogan translates to "The watchman is a thief."<ref name="Naamdaar" /> It was aimed at Modi in relation to the alleged irregularities and favouritism in awarding of the contracts related to the [[Rafale deal controversy|Rafale fighter jet deal]].<ref name="telegraphindia16March" /><ref name="ReutersWatchman">{{cite news |title=India's watchmen question whether Modi embrace will improve their lot |url=https://in.reuters.com/article/india-election-watchmen/indias-watchmen-question-whether-modi-embrace-will-improve-their-lot-idINKCN1R406H |accessdate=24 March 2019 |work=Reuters |date=23 March 2019 |language=en}}</ref> On 14 December, Gandhi stated that ''Chowkidar chor hai'' and his party will prove the corruption that was done in the Rafale deal.<ref>{{cite news |title=राफेल मामले पर बोले राहुल, चौकीदार ही चोर है ये हम साबित करके रहेंगे- Amarujala |url=https://www.amarujala.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-said-pm-modi-doesn-t-speak-only-sitharaman-and-jaitley-speak-on-rafale-deal |accessdate=1 April 2019 |work=Amar Ujala |date=14 December 2018}}</ref> The government has denied any wrong doing in the Rafale deal and also [[Supreme court]] dismissed all the petitions seeking a review of its December 2018 judgement and upheld the Rafale deal, stating that no irregularities or [[corruption]] have been found.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Economic Times: Business News, Personal Finance, Financial News, India Stock Market Investing, Economy News, SENSEX, NIFTY, NSE, BSE Live, IPO News|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/defaultinterstitial.cms?from=mdr|access-date=2020-07-29|website=economictimes.indiatimes.com}}</ref>

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''".<ref name="Indian Express16">{{cite news |title=Slogan ‘Acche din aayenge’ has changed to ‘Chowkidar chor hai’: Rahul Gandhi |url=https://indianexpress.com/elections/slogan-acche-din-aayenge-has-changed-to-chowkidar-chor-hai-rahul-gandhi-5629831/ |accessdate=18 March 2019 |work=The Indian Express |date=16 March 2019 |language=en-IN}}</ref> Later in [[Nagpur]], Gandhi stated that an enquiry will be done after the election post which, "the ''Chowkidar'' will go to jail".<ref name="The Indian Express_Chowkidar_jail">{{cite web |title=After elections, chowkidar will go to jail: Rahul Gandhi in Nagpur |url=https://indianexpress.com/elections/lok-sabha-polls-after-elections-chowkidar-will-go-to-jail-rahul-in-nagpur-5659400/ |website=The Indian Express |accessdate=6 April 2019 |language=en-IN |date=5 April 2019}}</ref>

On 20 November 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.<ref name="News1820Nov">{{cite news |title='Chowkidar hi Chor Hain, Crime Thriller Playing Out in Delhi': Rahul Gandhi Targets PM Modi |url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/chowkidar-hi-chor-hain-crime-thriller-playing-out-in-delhi-rahul-gandhi-targets-pm-narendra-modi-1944679.html |accessdate=18 March 2019 |work=News18 |date=20 November 2018}}</ref> Sinha had stated that government officials and ministers were interfering in the investigation against CBI special director [[Rakesh Asthana]].<ref name="News1820Nov" />

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.<ref name="Naamdaar">{{cite news |title=After repeated 'chowkidar chor hai' jibes, Narendra Modi in Madhya Pradesh says Congress, its 'naamdar' hurling abuses at him |url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/after-repeated-chowkidar-chor-hai-jibes-narendra-modi-in-madhya-pradesh-says-congress-its-naamdar-hurling-abuses-at-him-5573091.html |accessdate=1 April 2019 |work=Firstpost}}</ref>

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."<ref name="HuffPost25Dec" />

On 25 March, the slogan ''Chowkidar chor hai'' was raised by the audience during the fourth [[cricket]] match of [[IPL 2019]] at Jaipur.<ref>{{cite news |last1=टीम |first1=फ़ैक्ट चेक |title=IPL-2019 में ‘चौकीदार चोर है’ के नारे! |url=https://www.bbc.com/hindi/sport-47709151 |accessdate=1 April 2019 |work=BBC |date=27 March 2019}}</ref>

===''Main Bhi Chowkidar''===
On 14 March 2019, Modi responded to the jibe by launching a campaign with the slogan "''[[Main Bhi Chowkidar]]''" ({{lang-hi|मैं भी चोकीदार|translation=I too am a watchman}}) for his supporters, implying that everyone is a fighter against corruption and social evils.<ref name="telegraphindia16March">{{cite news |title=Narendra Modi urges supporters to take 'main bhi chowkidar' pledge |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/narendra-modi-urges-supporters-to-take-main-bhi-chowkidar-pledge/cid/1686940 |accessdate=18 March 2019 |work=telegraphindia.com |date=16 March 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="ReutersWatchman" /> Modi even changed the name of his official [[Twitter]] handle titled 'Narendra Modi' to 'Chowkidar Narendra Modi'.<ref name="Economic Times 17 March">{{cite news |title='Chowkidar Narendra Modi': PM changes Twitter handle name to counter Rahul Gandhi's chor jibe |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/chowkidar-narendra-modi-pm-changes-twitter-handle-name-to-counter-rahul-gandhis-chor-jibe/articleshow/68448053.cms |accessdate=18 March 2019 |work=The Economic Times |date=17 March 2019}}</ref>

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''".<ref name="BBC_19March">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/hindi/social-47623166 |title=मोदी 'चौकीदार' तो 'चौकीदार का मालिक' कौन |date=2019-03-19 |access-date=2019-03-20 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Many supporters of BJP also changed their names accordingly.<ref name=HuffPost_Profile>{{Cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/in-a-new-gimmick-pm-changes-twitter-profile-name-to-chowkidar-narendra-modi_in_5c8e0464e4b0db7da9f454a7 |title=In A New Gimmick, PM Changes Twitter Profile Name To 'Chowkidar Narendra Modi' |date=2019-03-17 |access-date=2019-03-20 |language=en}}</ref> Modi addressed a large group of watchmen on audio link as part of the campaign.<ref name="bbc_audiolink">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-47114401 |title=Mayawati delivers election shock |date=2019-03-20 |access-date=2019-03-20 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Congress party criticized BJP's election slogan with Gandhi stating that the truth cannot change since ''Chowkidar Chor Hai''. The chief spokesperson of Congress, [[Randeep Surjewala]] responded to Modi's slogan and accused Modi of being the "only chowkidar who is a thief".<ref name="Rediff16">{{cite news |title=To counter 'chowkidar chor hai' jibe, PM launches 'main bhi chowkidar' campaign |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/report/pm-launches-main-bhi-chowkidar-campaign/20190316.htm |accessdate=18 March 2019 |work=Rediff |date=16 March 2019}}</ref> Congress social media team responded with the slogan "''Main Bhi Berozgar''" (I too am jobless) to highlight the problem of unemployment under the Modi government and to counter ''Main Bhi Chowkidar'' campaign.<ref name="berozgar">{{cite news |title=Youth Cong's 'Main Bhi Berozgar' campaign to counter BJP's 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/news/youth-congs-main-bhi-berozgar-campaign-to-counter-bjps-main-bhi-chowkidar/articleshow/68649541.cms |accessdate=31 March 2019 |work=The Times of India |date=30 March 2019}}</ref>

[[Aam Aadmi Party]] (AAP) chief [[Arvind Kejriwal]] stated that Modi wants the entire country to become '' 'chowkidar' '', people who want their children to become watchmen should vote for Modi while those looking for good education for the children to become doctor, engineer or lawyer should vote for AAP.<ref name="HT_Kejriwal">{{cite news |title=Lok Sabha elections 2019 ‘If you want your child to become chowkidar, vote for Narendra Modi’: Arvind Kejriwal |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/lok-sabha-elections/lok-sabha-elections-2019-if-you-want-your-child-to-become-chowkidar-vote-for-narendra-modi-arvind-kejriwal/story-r5ubkXcwSqY7Oi3hFwA7IJ.html |quote="If people want their children to become chowkidar, they should vote for Modi but if they want their child to get good education and become doctor, engineer or lawyer, they should vote for AAP,"|accessdate=24 March 2019 |work= hindustantimes.com |date=20 March 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Supreme Court case===
BJP leader [[Meenakshi Lekhi]] filed a case in the [[Supreme Court of India]] seeking a contempt action against Gandhi for misattributing his remarks to the top court.<ref name="TH_30April">The Court sought an apology from Gandhi.{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/chowkidar-chor-hai-remark-supreme-court-insists-on-apology-from-rahul-gandhi/article26993138.ece |title=SC insists on apology from Rahul Gandhi for attributing phrase 'chowkidar chor hai' to it |date=2019-04-30 |access-date=2019-05-18 |language=en-IN}}</ref> On 22 April 2019, Gandhi 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 attributed the ''chowkidar chor hai'' remarks to the supreme court "in the heat of the campaign". In his reply, Gandhi 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 Modi of stealing from the poor and handing doles to the rich. Later he apologised,<ref name="IT_8May">"{{Cite news |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/elections/lok-sabha-2019/story/rahul-gandhi-unconditional-apology-to-supreme-court-1519806-2019-05-08 |title=Rahul Gandhi tenders unconditional apology to Supreme Court for chowkidar chor hai attribution |date=2019-05-08 |access-date=2019-05-18 |language=en-IN}}</ref> after the Court expressed displeasure on a "regret", instead of "apology" as was sought earlier.<ref name="TH_30April" />

==See also==
* '' [[Main Bhi Chowkidar]]''
* ''[[Who watches the watchmen]]'', a Latin phrase found in the work of the Roman poet Juvenal

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*[https://www.ndtv.com/opinion/modis-chowkidar-campaign-shows-rahul-gandhis-working-2009187 "Chowkidar" Shows Rahul May Just Have Outwitted Modi]

[[Category:Indian political slogans]]
[[Category:Indian general election campaigns]]
[[Category:2019 Indian general election]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress campaigns]]
[[Category:Narendra Modi]]
[[Category:Rahul Gandhi]]

Chowkidar Chor Hai - Revision history

->APPU at 06:56, 6 November 2021