'Maut ka Saudagar' to 'Chowkidaar chor hai': 5 Opposition attacks against Modi that boomeranged

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (PTI)

The controversy over the alleged use of indecent language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a Congress-RJD event in Bihar's Darbhanga district last week blew up on Tuesday with the PM terming the incident an "abuse to all mothers and daughters of the country".

In his first response after the incident, where expletives were allegedly hurled against the Prime Minister, Modi said that it was deeply saddening, painful, and distressing for him to see his late mother being subjected to such "vile abuses" and called upon all women of Bihar to hold those guilty accountable for their actions.

He also used the opportunity to remind Bihar's women electorate, a major driving force behind the NDA's victory in the state, of the "darkness" they were subjected to during the RJD's rule in the state, and claimed that the Opposition parties were "out for revenge" against women for siding with the NDA.

While the impact of Modi turning this personal attack against him into an issue on women's pride and motherhood will be known once the election results are out, there have been past instances when objectionable remarks targeted at Modi have backfired for the Opposition.

'Chai waala' jibe by Mani Shanker Aiyar

The run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 saw a wave of support in favour of Modi who had just been anointed as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate. With an unprecedented momentum on Modi's side, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar claimed that a 'chai-waala' could never become the Prime Minister of India. “He could sell tea at a Congress conclave,” he had said, referring to Modi's early life when he used to sell tea at a railway station in Gujarat. "If he (Modi) wants to sell tea at the railway stations again, some contribution can be made to help him set-up a tea-stall."

Modi condemned the remark and said a tea-seller was any day better than "people who sell the country". It allowed Modi to position himself as a leader who rose through the ranks from modest beginnings and thus establish greater connect with the masses. The ‘Chai Pe Charcha’ campaign became talk of the town in poll season and Modi led BJP to an unprecedented victory that saw it form its first government on its own at the Centre.

'Neech aadmi' fiasco: Aiyar aids Modi's rise

Ahead of the 2017 Gujarat polls, Mani Shankar Aiyar once again targeted Modi, calling him a “neech aadmi.” Modi turned the remark into a casteist slur aimed at him by the Congress, successfully shifting the narrative in the BJP’s favour — despite the momentum the Patidar agitation had built against the ruling party.

Following a cue from Modi at a poll rally, the BJP quickly turned the remark to paint the Congress as anti-Dalit and anti-OBC. The BJP eventually managed to gain a majority comfortably, winning 99 seats, 7 more than the majority mark.

'Maut ka saudagar': Sonia Gandhi's fiercest attack falls flat

Ahead of the 2007 Assembly elections in Gujarat, Congress appeared set for an easy victory over the BJP. Then UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, campaigning for the Congress, launched a fierce attack against Modi in a poll campaign over the Gujarat riots of 2002 and referred to the then CM as “Maut Ka Saudagar” (Merchant of Death).

Modi weaponised the attack against him to turn it against the Congress and accused the grand old party of shielding the perpetrators of the Parliament attack. The results left political pundits aghast as the BJP went on to win 117 of the 182 seats in the Gujarat Assembly.

'Chowkidar Chor Hai': Rahul Gandhi's Rafale offensive turns turtle

Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi aggressively raised the issue of alleged irregularities in the Rafale deal with France during his poll campaign to target Modi who was seeking a second straight term as Prime Minister. Rahul, the then Congress president, repeatedly referred to the Rafale "scam" to target PM Modi and accused him of facilitating massive kickbacks in exchange for a costlier deal and the slogan of 'Chowkidar Chor Hai' became his weapon of choice to target the PM.

However, Modi turned the narrative on its head as the BJP launched a massive "Main Bhi Chowkidar" campaign to counter the Congress leader's allegations. The counter-offensive saw several BJP leaders add a "Main bhi chowkidar" suffix to their social media handles to counter Rahul's "Chowkidaar chor hai" campaign. The election results saw Congress suffer a historic defeat while the BJP went on to register a landslide victory with a mandate of 353 seats, its highest in Lok Sabha tally ever.

Mallikarjun Kharge's ‘Ravan’ attack

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge stirred a controversy during the 2022 Gujarat Assembly polls by referring to PM Modi as ‘Ravan’ during a campaign rally. Addressing a rally in Ahmedabad’s Behrampura, Kharge said, "We see your (Modi’s) face in corporation elections, MLA elections or MP elections, everywhere… Do you have 100 heads like Raavan?"

"I’ve been seeing that votes are sought in the name of Modiji, be it municipality elections, corporation elections (or Assembly elections)… Ask for vote in the name of the candidate… is Modi going to come and work at the municipality? Is he going to help you in times of your need?" he added.

Following the statement, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel claimed that the remark reflected the Congress' hatred for Gujaratis. "It's an insult not just to PM Modi. It is an insult to every Gujarati, to Gujarat." The party called on voters in the state to teach Congress a "lesson" by voting for BJP.

The campaign worked and the BJP registered an emphatic win in the Assembly elections, winning 152 of the 182 seats, and forming its government for a record seventh term.