States » NorthPosted at: Nov 6 2026 4:59PM


Saini demands Rahul Gandhi's apology over 'chowkidar chor hai' remark

Panchkula, Nov 6 (UNI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, on Friday, revived the "chowkidar chor hai" controversy, demanding a public apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for allegedly insulting the country's village watchmen and questioning his credibility to level corruption allegations while his own party had faced a series of major scandals during its years in power.
Launching a fierce political attack at the state-level Rural Chowkidar Samman Samaroh, Saini accused Gandhi of showing disrespect towards people who protect villages and public property, often working through the night under difficult conditions.
"Rahul Gandhi, you said 'chowkidar chor hai'. You have insulted the chowkidars of this country. You should apologise to them," the Chief Minister said.
Saini accused Gandhi of being disconnected from the hardships of ordinary citizens because of his privileged political background, saying the Congress leader had little understanding of the sacrifices made by village watchmen.
He contrasted Gandhi's remarks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2019 "Main Bhi Chowkidar" campaign, which, he said, had sought to give recognition and dignity to people performing their duties with honesty and dedication.
"These chowkidars sometimes perform their duties even without a proper meal. What does Rahul Gandhi know about their hardships?" Saini asked.
The "chowkidar chor hai" slogan was used by Gandhi during the 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign to attack Modi over allegations concerning the Rafale fighter aircraft deal. Gandhi had maintained that his criticism was directed at Modi rather than village watchmen.
The Congress leader had also apologised to the Supreme Court for incorrectly attributing the slogan to the court while referring to its order in the Rafale case.
Expanding his attack beyond the slogan, Saini invoked a series of corruption controversies associated with previous Congress governments, including the Bofors affair, the 1992 securities scam linked to Harshad Mehta, the Adarsh housing controversy and the AgustaWestland helicopter deal.
He questioned why Congress leaders continued to accuse their political opponents of dishonesty without answering questions about controversies during their own tenure.
The Chief Minister alleged that successive Congress governments had failed to adequately recognise the contribution of rural chowkidars, who played an important role in maintaining village security and assisting the administration.
Saini said the BJP government had taken steps to improve their financial security and working conditions, while expanding their role in public service delivery.
In a separate warning to the police, the Chief Minister said station house officers would be held accountable if they failed to act on information about drug trafficking provided by village watchmen.
He asked chowkidars to report drug sellers without fear and said they could bring complaints directly to his notice if local police failed to respond.
"If you give me a slip identifying drug trafficking and the police fail to act, we will hold the SHO accountable," Saini said.
He directed that drug trafficking networks be investigated to their roots and called for greater cooperation between village watchmen and law enforcement agencies.
Development and Panchayats Minister Krishan Lal Panwar, addressing the gathering, said the government had examined the demands submitted by the rural chowkidars' association before placing them before the Chief Minister. He said Saini had assured the department that the legitimate demands of the workers would be addressed.
Panwar described village watchmen as an important link between the administration and rural communities, saying they assisted the police, protected public property and alerted authorities to suspicious activities. He also welcomed the release of Rs 1,158 crore for 6,230 gram panchayats and urged chowkidars to spread awareness about government welfare schemes among villagers.
Haryana Assembly Deputy Speaker Krishan Lal Middha praised Saini's accessibility and approach to public grievances, saying the Chief Minister remained available to meet people even outside normal working hours. He said political leadership required compassion and a willingness to listen to those facing difficulties.
Middha said the Chief Minister's concern for people working at the grassroots level was reflected in his response to the demands of rural chowkidars. He expressed confidence that the decisions taken by the government would strengthen their welfare and improve their working conditions.
Senior government officials, elected representatives and rural chowkidars from across Haryana attended the programme.
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