New Congress entrant Hardik Patel Monday prefixed his Twitter handle with the word “Berojgar” (jobless), apparently to mock the BJP’s “Main Bhi Chowkidar” campaign on the social media.
The twitter handle of the Patidar quota spearhead, who joined the Congress in the presence of party president Rahul Gandhi recently, now reads as: “Berojgar Hardik Patel”.
Bharatiya Janata Party sources said the campaign was launched as part of its strategy to turn the tables against Gandhi’s jibe as it did in 2014 by aggressively countering former Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar’s “chaiwalla” jibe.
In his rallies and addresses, PM Modi terms himself as a ‘chowkidar’ or watchman of the country. Under “Main Bhi” campaign, BJP leaders, Union ministers, chief ministers are prefixing the word “chowkidar” (watchman) to their twitter handles.
Gujarat Congress IT cell vice president Hiren Banker said several Congress workers are adding “Berojgar” to their twitter handles.
However, he also clarified that the Congress is yet to officially adopt the ‘Berojgar’ campaign. The ‘Berojgar’ began trending Sunday when several youths added the new nomenclature to their twitter handles.
“Several workers of Congress have also joined the ‘campaign’ and the engagement is increasing. However, we have not yet officially adopted this,” Banker said, adding that the Congress would adopt the “Berojgar” campaign after consulting party officials.
The Congress is countering the BJP’s ‘MainBhiChowkidar’ hashtag, which was trending on the micro-blogging site with its ‘ChowkidarChorHai’ hashtag.
Rahul Gandhi has been attacking the prime minister with the “Chowkidar Chor Hai” jibe in the context of the Rafale fighter aircraft deal.
The Congress also alleges that Modi government has failed to create promised jobs in the country after coming to power in 2014, which has increased unemployment significantly.
Gearing up for the coming Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the “Main Bhi Chowkidar” campaign, calling everyone who were fighting corruption, social evils and working hard for the progress of India, as watchmen.
PM Modi’s twitter handle reads: “Chowkidar Narendra Modi”.
Reacting to the BJP’s “Main Bhi Chowkidar” campaign, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati in a casual tweet, took a dig at PM Modi saying, “After BJP launch ‘Mai Bhi Chowkidar’ campaign, PM Modi & others added the prefix ‘Chowkidar’ to their Twitter handles. So now Narendra Modi is Chowkidar & no more a ‘Chaiwala’ which he was at the time of last LS election. What a change India is witnessing under BJP rule. Bravo!”