I'm a chowkidar from birth, says Sena's south Mumbai MP

The Shiv Sena's Mumbai South Lok Sabha MP Arvind Sawant Saturday hopped onto ally BJP's 'chowkidar' campaign by claiming his party since inception had the "essence" of the watchman, that of being vigilant and providing security.

"Everyone who is alert and provides security is a chowkidar, including Shiv Sainiks. I am a chaukidar from birth and have been supporting the campaign since the two parties have been in alliance," Sawant said at the state BJP office here.

Ironically, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, at a rally in Solapur on December 25, had mounted a veiled attack on the BJP by repeating the Congress' "chowkidar chor hai" jibe.

Thackeray, narrating an incident, said, "In one of the state tours, a farmer showed me a pest-infested lime tree. The lime tree is actually used to make pesticides but this one was itself hit by pests. The farmer told me it was the first time he had ever seen a lime tree getting attacked by pests. I told him times had changed. Nowadays, those providing security themselves have become thieves."