Modi draws Flak over “Toliets vs Temples” Remark

BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi stunned a large number of people, when he shed his “Hindutva” and wore a “burqua” of social development. When Union Minister Jairam Ramesh said that India had many temples than toilets, there was a huge uproar, created by the BJP and RSS. But, Modi did exactly the same now.

While speaking at a students’ function in Delhi, Narendra Modi said, “I am known to be a Hindutva leader. My image does not permit me to say so, but I dare to say. My real thought is ‘Pehle shauchalaya, phir devalaya’ (toilets first, temples later).”  VHP leader Praveen Togadia has slammed Modi, saying the Gujarat CM has insulted the Hindus and there was no justification why he drew comparison between the temples and toilets.

“We are stunned and shocked to hear about the unnecessary mention of temples by Narendra Modi in a statement wherein he was talking about the need for better sanitation facilities in the country. We too believe in the need for better hygiene. But the way temples were dragged in the matter was uncalled for. It is nothing short of an insult to the Hindu society,” Togadia said.

The BJP tried to defend Modi against the criticism. “All Modi was saying was that sanitation is another name of God in a way. So we should focus more on the sanitation part and temples people will build any way”, party leader Balbir Punj said.

Jairam Ramesh took a potshot at Modi, saying what he said was out of conviction, but Modi is saying out of compulsion, which arises from his blind Prime Ministerial ambitions. “I still believe we need more toilets than temples. I wish Modi had discovered this 20 years ago, then we would not have had the Babri Masjid episode,” he said.