Welcoming Raj in the party-fold, BJP president Rajnath Singh said India cannot be a powerful country if a community continued to remain backward and marginalised.
SCs, he alleged, have not received any benefits during the 10 years rule of Congress and claimed his party has been trying a lot to promote them. BJP recently sent three Dalit leaders to Rajya Sabha, he said to make his point.
A former IRS officer who has in past organized Hindu groups with his activism including holding of mass-conversions, Raj charged the interest of Dalits has been adversely affected during Congress rule and claimed BJP is more sympathetic to their cause.
He also hit out at BSP supremo Mayawati, who enjoys considerable supports among Dalits, alleging her party benefited from the vote of SCs but did little to ensure their welfare.
Arvind Kejriwal of AAP was also attacked by Raj. Kejriwal, he said, was his junior in Indian Revenue Service and did "nothing noteworthy" in Income Tax department and "is now indulging in politics of propaganda and lies".