Stop ‘Chowkidar’ politics, it hurts: Watchmen

Harshraj Singh
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, March 25

At a time when politics on word ‘chowkidar’ is in full swing in the country, real chowkidars of the city have slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi for allegedly doing such kind of politics to defame them.

The members of the Revenue Chowkidar Society, Jhande village, in the district said they were going to lodge a complaint with the Election Commission of India in this regard. They wanted the commission to direct the BJP leaders concerned to remove the word “Chowkidar” from their names. They also demanded strict instructions to the Congress and other leaders to stop saying “Chowkidar chor hai”.

A chowkidar, Manjit Singh Phullanwal, said: “While PM Modi says he is a chowkidar, Congress President Rahul Gandhi says ‘Chowkidar is chor’ (thief). They should not defame us by misusing the word just for the sake of politics. They should become real chowkidars like we are to know how we work and what problems we face.”

Jaswinder Singh Jhande, president of the society, said: “We are against politics on the word “Chowkidar”. We conducted a meeting in Ludhiana today and decided to submit a complaint to the Election Commission of India against politics on “Chowkidar”. The politicians should not use this word to woo the voters.”

“They should know that our salary is a mere Rs 1,250 per month. We keep vigil in our villages. We give information to the officials concerned and the police about what is happening in our area. Now, we are hurt due to politics the leaders doing these days on the word ‘Chowkidar’. No government has paid any attention to our poor condition to date. Who cares that we get a meagre salary when the income of these leaders and officials is in lakhs?”

“Earlier, we also used to keep the birth and death record in our respective villages. But the government handed over this work to the dispensaries concerned. We appeal to the parties to stop politics on “Chowkidar” and they must focus on welfare of the real chowkidars,” he said.

These chowkidars have demanded that they should be paid at least Rs 10,000 per month as salary. If their voice is ignored, they would also consider moving court, they said.