After 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' video, Arun Jaitley takes social media campaign to next phase

In a series of video posted on Twitter and also Facebook, Jaitley on Tuesday said Congress president Rahul Gandhi's brand of politics has been rejected.

Taking exception to arrest of youths for raising pro-Narendra Modi slogans in Bengaluru, he said the champions of 'free speech' ought to speak out on these. "Hugs for ‘Tukde Tukde’ gang and arrest of peaceful youth raising pro-Modi slogans? Where are the champions of ‘Free Speech’?," Jaitley tweeted.

"The Yuvraj of Congress must know it is the younger generation that decides the course of the

nation. Stop intimidating youth of India, which has rejected your brand of politics", he wrote.

In a video message, Jaitley lashed out at "so called" 108 economists for issuing a statement questioning the authenticity of the official data.

"A few days ago, 108 so called economists issued a statement questioning the validity of data...I analysed the credentials of all 108 and found out that 70 per cent of those are compulsive contrarians and critics who filed multiple memorandum against this government in last five years," he said adding most of these memorandums are on the issue of politics and not economy.

As against these, Finance Minister said credible international institutions like IMF and World Bank have accepted 'our data'.

On this backdrop, Jaitley also sought to rubbish the campaign about joblessness and maintained when huge works have been done on infrastructures and electricity has been provided to every village, and when construction industry grows by 10 per cent - and to say there is no job --- "I think nothing can be further from truth".

In fact, Jaitley is not alone. Several Union Ministers and BJP leaders - even at the middle level and below - are busy these days talking about Narendra Modi government's achievements and welfare schemes on social media.

This new social media enthusiasm got a bolster after '#MainBhiChowkidar' campaign on Twitter launched on Saturday reportedly became a top worldwide trend on the micro-blogging site.

The BJP leaders say - the fact that this happened within hours of Prime Minister Modi launching the 'video campaign' resulting in global trends - only reflect Modi's popularity as an individual leader and also the 'acceptability' of the fact that the BJP campaign is based on facts and ground reality.

On Tuesday, another Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad made opportune use of a media briefing at party headquarters and said 'MainBhiChowkidar' campaign had to be launched because in the past the country's image had taken a 'beating' under Congress-led UPA on the issue of corruption.

"During the height of 2014 campaign, Modiji (as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate) had said - I want to fight corruption and I will be Chowkidar," Prasad said.

He also ridiculed the opposition - especially Congress criticism - on the same saying, "Those who were responsible for corruption are today criticising the campaign".

The lyrics and visuals of the full on-emotion video showcase the various schemes launched by PM Modi and his NDA dispensation. Prime Minister's missive on the Twitter in no time fetched thousands of retweets and numerous likes.

"Main Bhi Chowkidar hoon aaj ek jan andolan ban gaya hae (I am also a custodian of this country has caught people's imagination and has virtually turned into a people's movement)," Mr Prasad said adding professionals including medicos, students, women and sanitation workers have come forward endorsing the campaign.

In this context, he tried to take the campaign to the Congress camp and said the BJP's campaign has unnerved a particular section of people. "Those who are on bail are more frustrated by the Chowkidar campaign," the Union Minister said.

In a tweet that virtually stunned the nation, Modi says - "Aap ka Chowkidar Chaukanna hae....Your Chowkidar is standing firm and serving the nation. I am not alone. Everyone who is fighting corruption, dirt, social evils is a Chowkidar. Everyone working hard for the progress of India is a Chowkidar. Today, every Indian is saying - #MainBhiChowkidar."

The BJP campaign strategists in the run up to the polls think - more than half of their work is already done.