NAGPUR: BJP's new Dalit face Udit Raj had a difficult time on Sunday answering media queries why it was ok for Gujarat government taking money from US-based Ford Foundation but not for Kejriwal's NGO. Raj and BJP have claimed Ford Foundation is a front of US government's intelligence agency CIA and targeted AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal over the fact that his NGO Kabir received funding from the Foundation.

Raj was in the city to campaign for BJP candidate Nitin Gadkari . Raj himself is contesting from Delhi north-west seat. Initially Raj, who has recently joined BJP, claimed he was not aware of Gujarat government and Ford Foundation link but when provided with the details he said there was nothing wrong if government took it but NGOs should not take it. He claimed if NGOs took money they would destabilize the country but a state government would not do so.

While Kejriwal's link with Ford Foundation were brought to fore by BJP, it later came to light that Gujarat government led by Narendra Modi too was a beneficiary. As per Foundation report, GEER Foundation, a Gujarat government agency, received $1,22,000 in 2002. The chief minister of Gujarat is ex-officio chairman of the Foundation. Another agency Gujarat Institute of Development Research (GIDR), whose financial advisor is Gujarat's education department, received $197,759, the same year.

In spite of this contradiction, Raj maintained Kejriwal had foreign links. "Why didn't Ford Foundation give me any money? I have done more work than him but he got the Magsaysay Award," he said.

The Dalit leader charged Kejriwal with intellectual corruption saying it was more dangerous than economic corruption. "Intellectual corruption can derail the nation. Caste system is an example. It weakened the country and kept it in slavery for a thousand years."

He also charged AAP candidate Rakhi Birla with demanding money from the party candidate Mahendra Singh and called it immoral. However, when pointed out that BJP had fielded Yeddyurappa, who had been indicted by Lokayukta, he said, "Lokayukta is an outside agency. An allegation by a party colleague is far more serious."

Raj said he was more than confident that NDA would come to power with a thumping majority adding nothing could stop Narendra Modi from becoming the prime minister.

