Kejriwal was a failure as IRS officer, says Dr. Udit Raj, Dalit face of BJP

New Delhi: Dr. Udit Raj is a prominent Dalit leader and is known for his strong views on Dalit politics. He joined BJP on the eve of 2014 Lok Sabha elections and has defeated Rakhi Birla of AAP from Delhi North West constituency in 2014 parliamentary elections.In an exclusive interview to India TV website, Dr Udit Raj spoke at length on issues ranging from the emergence of BJP as a new ray of hope for Dalit community to the evolution of Arvind Kejriwal in Indian politics and the alleged disdain of Mayawati for Dalits. Senior to AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal in Indian Revenue Service (IRS), Dr Udit Raj believes that Arvind Kejriwal was a complete failure as an IRS officer in the Income Tax department and that foreign forces deliberately promoted him in order to create anarchy and chaos in India.Dr Udit Raj also termed BSP supremo Mayawati as ‘feudal' and ‘Manuvadi' and pointed out that her disdain for Dalits can be understood from the fact that she never allows any Dalit to sit beside her.Here goes the full transcript of the interview: Q: You have defeated Rakhi Birla, a prominent face of AAP, who has alleged that you are an outsider and that you have won only because of Modi wave. How would you react to that?Udit Raj: Of course, there was a Modi wave. But she got defeated in her own assembly constituency. AAP lost from another assembly constituency that they had won; by a huge margin of over 44000 votes. They could not save their own support. It means that they have no loyal support and their votes were transferred. So what she is claiming is contrary to what has really happened. Q: You were a bitter critique of BJP and RSS. What was it that changed your heart so much that you joined BJP and today you are an MP of that party? Udit Raj: Yes, around 8-10 years ago, I was a critique of BJP and RSS. But when Congress led government came at centre, I observed their working especially issues related to Dalits and marginalized people. When I compared their work with that of the Vajpayee regime, I realized that “Congress says but does not do, BJP says less but does”. So that was one of the reasons behind my shift towards BJP. BJP believes in inclusive growth. BJP earlier was considered a party of upper castes. Now it's a party of every community. Q: Mayawati still calls BJP a party of Manuvadis.Udit Raj: Mayawati herself is a Manuvadi and she never allows any Dalit to sit beside her. So what's this? She herself is a Manuvadi. Q: can you explain what does Modi wave means for Dalits? If you look at UP, both Mulayam and Mayawati have been wiped out. And there are reports that Dalits in large numbers voted for Narendra Modi.Udit Raj: When I joined BJP on 24th Feb, it was surprising to many and they were all astonished. But my supporters, who are spread across the country, were very happy because I took them into confidence before joining BJP. Those who were neutral, neither with me or with outfits like BSP, also thought that if a person like Dr Udit raj can join BJP then there is nothing wrong with BJP and therefore, they also supported us. And, of course, Narendra Modi always articulated the interest of every community. On March 2 in Lucknow, where I was also present, Modi said that coming decade belongs to Dalits, vanchits and deprived people. So he was in a position to address larger section and that's how party could break image of an upper caste party. So Dalits this time have voted in large numbers for the party. And I lead mostly the Dalit intelligentsia and they have the capacity of conveying the message. And I disagree with Mayawati when she claims that her vote bank is intact. In UP, Dalits are around 23 percent and BSP has got only 20 percent vote. She is trying to fight a psychological war. What about the votes garnered by his candidates. They also get the votes of their own caste men. The candidates have the capabilities to get 1.5-3 lac votes on their own. Where has that vote gone? This time, she had given tickets to 21 Brahmins as well. She is totally insecure. I am very sure that the remaining Dalits will also join BJP in coming days.Q: So Do you claim that you are the person behind Dalits voting for the BJP?Udit Raj: I have the strength in this country. I'm not claiming but it is understood. My election was over on 10th April. After that I moved across the country and held meeting of my own supporters. I told them that you are no longer my followers only. You are also the follower of Narendra Modi, Rajnath Singh and the party. So my supporters have played a very significant role. Q: If I remember correctly then after joining BJP, you had made a statement that you have been given some assurance by the party on issues relating to Dalits. Can you reveal what those assurances were? Udit Raj: I had said that inclusion of Dalits in every field is very important. Ultimately it is for the unity and integrity of the country. If India has to shine and become powerful then all communities have to be included in governance and development.Q:What, according to you, should be the priority of Modi government so far as Dalits are concerned. Have you shared any action plan with Modi?Udit Raj: There are so many issues. I have not shared any action plan. It's too early. Let the council of ministers be formed. And then I will have a discussion within party over what should be our priority.Q: There was a big controversy over Priyanka Gandhi's ‘neech rajniti' remark. Modi gave it a very different spin and claimed that she actually attacked his low caste origin. Was it fair on Modi's part to have interpreted it this way? Did it have any impact on elections?Udit Raj: It had an impact on the elections. Narendra Modi was able to expose the mindset, attitude and feelings of Gandhi family. It was very well communicated by Modi.Q: Coming to Dalit community, what are the major challenges that this community is facing? They are living a pathetic live even after 60 years of independence.Udit Raj: I remember, a few years back, there was no any Dalit journalist in Delhi. Had there been no reservation, we would not have been anywhere. Today if we are part of govt and participating in politics then it's because of reservation policy.Q: Arvind Kejriwal was your junior in IRS. How do you look at his evolution in national politics?Udit Raj: His evolution was mainly through Anna movement. And then he had support of foreign forces. Media support was huge. Even during counting, AAP was shown as a major party along with Congress and BJP. All other parties like BSP, RJD were shown as part of others. What is this? Is it not partiality of media? He is basically a media creation. If media stops showing him, he'll be nowhere. When he was in IT dept, he did nothing. You know, files speak. If you check files, you'll get to know how effective he was.And as a CM, he was also ineffective. He could not deliver. He had said he'll hold Janata darbar but he could not hold even one Janata Darbar. He was such an ineffective CM that within 15 days time, people started agitation against him. He is basically a media creation. He is a very clever person. He has manipulated very well and taken advantage from every corner.Q: Are you saying that he was a failure as an IRS officer?Udit Raj: He was a complete failure. My files are there, his files are there. I bet, I challenge him. Just look at what he has done to the nation, what he has done to the nation. He has not done anything.Q: Don't you think he has offered a platform to those who are fighting against corruption?Udit Raj: Then why he couldn't fight corruption in the department? At least, he could have initiated things. In fact, after forming an organization in 2005, he was awarded Magsaysay award within a span of 1 year. What great work did he do? That means foreign forces were behind him. They obliged him, they wanted to project him. They projected him so that he could create anarchy and chaos in the country.Q: You are making a serious allegation. Can you elaborate and substantiate your charge?Udit Raj: In 2005, he founded an organization ‘Kabir' and he became an RTI activist. But what did he do to change the lives of the people that he was awarded Magsaysay award within one year? That smells something. There are countries like America and other international foras that do not want to see development happening in third world countries. They want anarchy and chaos the way it's taking place in countries like Tunisia, Egypt and other countries including Pakistan that is also exporting anarchy and terrorism. That's why he was projected by them. Why did Ford foundation oblige him? What great work he was doing?Q: Don't you think Mayawati is your natural ally given her emphasis on Dalit empowerment? Why is it that you never tried to join hands with her.Udit Raj: Mayawati does not allow any dalit to function in the party. Tell me about any Dalit who can even sit beside her. Q: Has she got feudal in her outlook?Udit Raj: She is feudal. She charges others of being Manuvadi but she herself is a big Manuvadi. Q: Did you ever approach her?Udit Raj: No, I did not do that. I know she despises me. In 2009, when my party was fighting elections, one of my candidates Bahadur Sonkar of Jaunpur was killed. In fact, everybody knew at that time that he was going to be killed. We tried to approach the administration of the district but he was hanged to the tree. Even my brother, who lives in Lucknow, was attacked four0five times and no FIR was lodged. After that, the security was provided by the govt. It's because of the security that I'm surviving. In 2008 when I was leading a demonstration in Lucknow, I was arrested and beaten up very badly in police lines. As long as she was CM of UP, the state was very unsafe for me.Q: Before the general elections, three prominent Dalit leaders joined hands with BJP – Ramvilas Paswan, Ramdas Athavle and Udit Raj. Is it signaling a new direction to Dalit politics in the country?Udit Raj: Yes, indeed. That's correct.Q: So what is it in Narendra Modi or BJP or that is attracting Dalits to them?Udit Raj: BJP is no longer a party of upper castes. Earlier it was perceived that the party belongs to the upper castes but this perception has been broken. And dalit this time have voted in large numbers for the BJP.Q: But there is a big contradiction. You are known to have led mass conversion of Hindus. Do you think it will come in a way of your having a good relationship with RSS because they have very strong views on conversions?Udit Raj: RSS is not against ‘Diksha'. Buddhism in an indigenous religion, of course. It embodies Indian culture. RSS never opposes it. I'm a follower of Dr Ambedkar. Dr Ambedkar served the nation in a greatest way and he stood for annihilation of caste system. The RSS also wants caste system to go. The gap between different castes is proving to be a hindrance in creating Hindu unity and it should be abridged. I don't think RSS will have any problem. Rather they'll support and they are supporting us so that the division in Hindu society comes to an end.Q: Now that you have played a very important role in bringing Dalits to the BJP fold, do you see a role for yourself in Modi govt? Are you hopeful for a berth in ministry? You also went to RSS headquarters. Udit Raj: I have got administrative experience. If responsibility is given then I'll happily discharge it. I went to RSS office just to meet seniors.Q: One final question, what does Narendra Modi mean for Dalit community?Udit Raj: Narendra Modi in his rallies in Bihar, UP, Kerala and other places has said that marginalized people will be taken care of and they will be included in growth and governance.Q: Do you think Narendra Modi will be able to fulfill the dreams of Dalit community? He has been accused by Congress of being a pseudo OBC.Udit Raj: Of course, why not? The congress will definitely do its dirty job. They did everything including caste politics and communal politics. What have they given to Dalits? Even today, Dalits need reservation. If there is no reservation, they are nowhere. This is all because of Congress. What Congress says is completely baseless.