In what has come as a massive setback for the Congress, Election Commission in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday banned the broadcast for Pradesh Congress Committee's audio and video advertisement campaign having the tagline 'Chowkidar Chor Hai' (Watchman is the thief).
The Congress's advisement campaign, titled 'Chowkidar chor hai' has been banned with immediate effect, as the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) of the Election Commission decided to revoke the permission granted to the party on April 5, according to a letter signed by Joint Chief Electoral officer, Madhya Pradesh Rajesh Kaul.
The order from the poll body came following strong objections from the Madhya Pradesh unit of the BJP. In its complaint to the MP Chief Electoral Officer Kantha Rao, the BJP representation said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is well known by the name 'chowkidar' whom the advertisement has referred as 'thief' which is highly offensive and defamatory." "The advertisement is a violation of Article 19 (2) of the Indian Constitution," the complaint read.
The BJP's complaint also took note of the fact that the Supreme Court is hearing a criminal contempt petition against Congress president Rahul Gandhi for attributing his 'Chowkidar chor hai' remarks to the Supreme Court's recent order on Rafale. The Supreme Court had asked the Congress president to give an explanation by April 22.
The Congress, on its part, looks defiant. Stating that "there is nothing objectionable" in the campaign, nor it has named "any person", party spokesperson Shobha Oza said it will request the Election Commission to "review" its decision.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been repeatedly hurling the 'Chowkidar chor hai'(Watchman is the thief) jibe at PM Modi. PM Modi responded by launching a massive campaign called "Main bhi chowkidar" (I too am watchman) last month.
The origin of the word 'chowkidar' in India's political lingua franca dates back to the electioneering of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls when Modi had promised to work as a 'chowkidar' to guard the nation.
PM Modi has often described himself as a 'chowkidar' who had declared, "Na khaunga, na khane dunga (I won't indulge in corruption nor allow anyone to do so)?" On several occasions, PM Modi has reiterated, "All honest people have faith in chowkidaar. Lekin jo bhrasht hain unko Modi se kasht hai (Those who are corrupt have a problem with Modi)."
Tit-For-Tat Message
- Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been repeatedly hurling the ‘Chowkidar chor hai’(Watchman is the thief) jibe at PM Modi
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded by launching a massive campaign called “Main bhi chowkidar” (I too am watchman) last month
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