Having food with Dalits makes them feel inferior, won't help BJP: party MP Udit Raj

BJP MP Udit Raj has opposed his party's outreach programme 'Gram Swaraj Abhiyan', saying it would not bring any electoral gains to the party, instead it makes Dalits feel "inferior".

The programme was launched by the BJP after Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month asked all party MPs and ministers to spend time in villages having more than 50 per cent scheduled caste population.

The North West Delhi MP in a series of tweets said that Rahul Gandhi, who visited the Dalits to have food with them, led to the Congress defeat in the last Lok Sabha elections, and the same would happen with those doing it now.

"This is my social view. I can have personal view. Not only the party but the entire country, the 'Sawarn Samaj' (upper caste) should think about it. Now, just eating food will not help, it makes them feel inferior," Raj said.

The MP, who himself belongs to the Dalit community, said that his views were not against the party.

"Having night stay and food at houses of Dalits neither empowers the Dalit families nor benefits the politicians, Rahul Gandhi is a live example of it. Instead of pretending through night stay and eating food, it would be better if politicians come forward for food, clothes, houses, employment and treatment of needy dalits" Raj said in a tweet.

He said that although he went by the party dictate but did not believe that such a move will benefit the BJP.

"I personally believe it will not help the party. But, its a programme of the party so I extend my support to it," he told PTI.

Raj also said that the Dalits and the tribals in the country are getting frustrated and questioned the silence of academicians and intellectuals on it.

"Why Dalits/tribals are getting frustrated day by day in all over the country, need to be studied. Why academia/intelligentsia are not thinking/writing the reasons behind? In a short visit to Vishakhapatanam same is noticed what is in North India," he tweeted.

Citing defeat of the Congress in elections despite Gandhi having food with Dalit families, and Bharat Bandh organised by Dalit outfits last month, Raj said that a "lesson needs to be learnt from the protest".

"My opinion is not against the BJP, rather it is aimed at helping it. Rahul Gandhi had food at Dalit houses and lost the election. Dalits managed Bharat Bandh on April 2 without any organisation. Are not lessons need to be learnt from these," he said.