Youths, labourers coined 'Chowkidar chor hai' slogan: Rahul Ganhi

Hours after tendering an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court, for linking its Rafale case order to his ‘Chowkidar chor hai’ phrase against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said that ‘chowkidar chor hai’ slogan has not been coined by the Congress or him but by the youths and labourers of the country.

“This slogan was not coined by the Congress, or by Rahul Gandhi, but it is a slogan of the youth, farmers and labourers of India," he said at an election rally.

The Congress leader has repeatedly hurled "chowkidar chor hai" (the watchman is a thief) jibe at Modi to target him over the Rafale deal.

"Mediapersons asked me today about the genesis of the chowkidar chor hai slogan. I told them that while addressing a rally in Chhattisgarh, I said the chowkidar promised two crore jobs to the youth and assured Rs 15 lakh will be deposited in bank account of each Indian. Around 10-15 young men in the rally said 'chor hai'. I did not hear it the first time. So I asked (the young men) what did you say? They said 'chor hai',” he added.

Claiming this slogan has become people’s slogan, Gandhi said, "Once when my car had halted at a traffic signal, an auto stopped by the side of my window (which was open), driver saw me smiling, saw in my eyes and said `chowkidar chor hai'."

Gandhi also accused PM Modi of insulting the martyrs by "committing a theft" in the multi-crore defence contract.

HE said Modi is looking "depressed" these days as he has sensed he is going to lose the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, whose last phase will be held on May 19.

"Officials of the Indian Air Force wrote that Narendra Modi held parallel negations with France. Chowkidar was holding direct dialogue with the manufacturer of Rafale Dassault...Chowkidar now explain to the country why you committed a theft?" he said at an election rally.

He continued, "Jab Aapne (Modi) Chori Ki Thi, Tab Aapke Dil me Kaun Si Bhawana Thi? Tab Aapne Socha Ki Aap Bhind Ke Yuvaon Se Rojgar Chhin Rahe Ho. Nahi. Tab Aapne Socha Aap Shaheedo Ka Apmaan Kar Rahe ho, Nahi. Ye Batein Aapne Nahi Sochi. Magar Narendra Modi ji, Nyay se Koi Nahi Bach Sakta.  (What was your feeling when you were committing theft. Did you think that you are snatching jobs from the youths of Bhind? No. Did you think that you are insulting the martyrs? No. You did not think this. But, Narendra Modi ji, nobody can escape justice.)

He alleged the countrys youths lost job opportunities after the Modi government decided to buy Rafale jets built in France instead of manufacturing them in India.