Toilets before temples, says Narendra Modi; how BJP has changed, says Congress

New Delhi: Narendra Modi earned a round of loud applause and much cheering when he told 7000 college students in a Delhi stadium on Wednesday that he would build more toilets in India before he would build temples. (Make toilets before temples: Narendra Modi tells students in Delhi)

"My identity is of a Hindutvawadi, but I say build toilets before you build temples," the BJP's candidate for prime minister said, putting development before Hindutva as he rued the fact that many Indians still do not have access to basic sanitation.

The BJP is pleased with the punch-line and with the development agenda of its leader. "Kudos to Namo giving more importance to toilets than places of worship. Vivekanand also said Daridra sewa is Narain seva (serving the poor is serving the god)," tweeted Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi today.

But the Congress says, not so fast. Did Modi's BJP not criticize union minister Jairam Ramesh last year for saying much the same thing?

"BJP demanded Jairam Ramesh's apology, backing Modi on same statement now, shows BJP's double standards," tweeted Congress spokesperson and minister Rajeev Shukla this morning.

A year ago, almost to the day, Mr Ramesh had said, "I think toilets are more important than temples. No matter how many temples we go to, we are not going to get salvation. We need to give priority to toilets and cleanliness."

The BJP slammed Mr Ramesh with party leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy saying, "It would be good for Mr Ramesh that out of his exuberance he stops making such comments which will destroy the fine fabric of religion and faith."

Even Mr Ramesh's own party, the Congress, was not terribly pleased. The ruling party said it respects "the sanctity of every religious place". Party spokesperson Manish Tewari also said, "The Congress party believes in sarvadharmasambhav - equal respect for all religions and religious places.

Make toilets before temples: Narendra Modi tells students in Delhi

New Delhi: Narendra Modi told about 7000 students in the capital today, "My identity is of a Hindutvawadi, but I say build toilets before you build temples."

The BJP's prime ministerial candidate for 2014 also told the young voters in his audience what secularism means to him. "I define secularism as nation first, India first. Justice to all, appeasement to none. No votebank politics - a poor man is a poor man, where he prays is immaterial."

Yesterday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said secular forces must come together to "stop the onslaught of people like Narendra Modi." The Gujarat chief minister's rivals question his secular credentials and accuse him of not doing enough to prevent communal riots in his state in 2002, when hundreds of Muslims were killed under his watch.

Mr Modi's was the concluding address at an event where students from 200 colleges shared their ideas for change in India. He arrived at Delhi's Thyagraj stadium at about 11 in the morning and stayed through the day, as presentations were made and other political leaders spoke.   

His focus was on governance and he pitched his Gujarat model, but politics was implicit, not least when Mr Modi made a subtle dig at dynastic politics in the Congress: "In my family, no one knew the p of Politics... I used to be sell tea on trains and today I stand here in front of you. So stop thinking where you come from. If you want to change the country, start walking and you will find a way."

The crowd cheered lustily  as he delivered his punchlines. Mr Modi had prefaced, much to their delight, his address with the suggestion that he chat with them rather than give a heavy speech.

He also shared the stage with Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu, who had once shown much reservation to being seen on the same side as Mr Modi. There has been speculation that Mr Naidu, once a BJP ally, might be looking at an electoral  partnership again.