The Congress on Saturday tolled Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a gaffe over a tweet connected to the #MainBhiChowkidar campaign.

Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi and the party’s IT cell in-charge Divya Spandana posted tweets with screenshots showing PM Modi’s response to a tweet by @niiravmodi, a parody account in the name of fugitive Nirav Modi.

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Spandana mocked BJP by calling it “Bot Janata Party”.

Best #MainBhiChowkidar tweet exchange ever. Gold. pic.twitter.com/K8HHfej1KQ

— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) March 16, 2019

Modi ji why did you delete the tweet? Hahaha! #ChowkidaarChorHai Agar aap chowkidar ho sakte hain to Nirav Modi kyun nahin? 😂 pic.twitter.com/NP8AKogmOC

— Divya Spandana/Ramya (@divyaspandana) March 16, 2019

The tweet posted by the PM had been deleted at the time of writing. But many on social media posted screenshots of the deleted tweet while underlining that a bot was tweeting from the PM’s account.

#MeinBhiChowkidar lost the track with epic bot responses to troll handles. Modi’s official Twitter handle thanked/responded to Nirav Modi & Ambani ka Chela accounts.

Supports @divyaspandana ‘s
Bot Janata Party claim.#MeraBotPM#ChowkidarChorHai pic.twitter.com/WwrrddRgV0

— Arun PS (@policy_wonk_KL) March 16, 2019

If anyone knows the guy who had given the idea of automated reply on #MeinBhiChowkidar tweet… We all want to thank you … You are a Superstar… You made our day.. @akashbanerjee @Rampuniyani1945 @Sampat_Saral @dhruv_rathee @RahulGandhi @priyankac19 @RubikaLiyaquat pic.twitter.com/GC1UiH0jj6

— iamrajesh (@rajesh12789) March 16, 2019

Even National Conference leader Omar Abdullah posed a question, to which a user pointed out that the bot had also responded to another parody handle with a cheeky name.

He also tweeted to “Modi le dubega” handle, named Lalu. 😂 pic.twitter.com/pU2xl8t4fM

— Amit Tyagi (@hiambuj) March 16, 2019

Earlier today, the PM launched the ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’ campaign urging the people of the country to act as watchmen against corruption and social evils. He also called on the population to work together for the progress of the country.

“Your Chowkidar is standing firm and 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,” Modi said in a series of tweets.

“Today, every Indian is saying. Main Bhi Chowkidar,” he added.

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

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 16, 2019

With the tweet, the Prime Minister also shared a 3.45-minute video titled “Take The Pledge”, urging people to join Modi on 31 March at 6 pm for a video programme titled ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’.

Supporters took to Twitter to show their allegiance to the Prime Minister’s mission. They began tweeting with the hashtag #MainBhiChowkidar expressing their willingness to join hands in the mission.

In response, many received what appeared as a personalised message from the PM. A similar message was delivered to the parody account @niiravmodi.

A prominent YouTuber, Dhruv Rathee, who, too, received a message from the PM, pointed to the absurdity of using a bot to send tweets to everyone posting anything with the hashtag #MainBhiChowkidar.

This #MainBhiChowkidar campaign has backfired so badly

Some dumb guy in BJP thought it would be nice idea to automate replies from Modi’s official account to everyone who tweets using this hashtag 😂

And that’s why you are seeing tweets like this 👇@RoflGandhi_ pic.twitter.com/zdLyBrOlRS

— Dhruv Rathee (@dhruv_rathee) March 16, 2019

Earlier today, Congress president Rahul Gandhi asked if the Prime Minister was “feeling a little guilty today”.

Gandhi was responding to Modi’s announcement of his new initiative on Twitter.

“Defensive tweet Mr Modi!” Gandhi wrote, attaching a photograph with the faces of Modi and businessmen such as Anil Ambani, Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya and Mehul Choksi.