Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (UM)

Udupi, Mar 30: The 'chowkidar' battle between the BJP and the Congress at the national level has trickled down to Udupi too, with stickers appearing on cars and auto rickshaws.

Local Congress leaders and workers have pasted 'Chowkidar Chor Hai' stickers on about 50 cars and auto rickshaws in and around the city.

'Chowkidar' (guard) refers to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has time and again proclaimed himself the 'chowkidar' guarding the nation against corruption and other ills. The PM recently launched the 'Main bhi Chowkidar' campaign on Twitter which received huge response from BJP supporters, and within a day went on to become the top trending topic on the social media platform.

On the other hand, the Congress led by its president Rahul Gandhi has countered it with the 'Chowkidar Chor Hai' campaign, over the alleged Rafale scam and accusing PM Modi of 'favouring' industrialists.

Speaking to daijiworld, Udupi district Congress secretary Harish Kini said, "We are inspired by Rahul Gandhi's speeches where he says 'Chowkidar Chor Hai'. The Modi government is involved in the Rafale scam and it is especially favouring industrialists.

"The Rafale contract was taken away from HAL and given to Anil Ambani, even though HAL has more experience. Some people are declaring themselves as 'Mai bhi Chowkidar', so we are countering them with our own campaign. Hence we have pasted stickers on our vehicles proclaiming 'Chowkidar Chor Hai'," he said.

Meanwhile, BJP too has pasted stickers on some vehicles in support of Modi. One such vehicle is of BJP district president Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde.