BJP today hit out at RuralDevelopment Minister Jairam Ramesh for his comment that thereare more temples in the country than toilets, saying he shouldnot make such statements which hurt the "fine fabric of faithand religion" in the country.
"Making of toilets and having faith in a religiousplace of worship are two different things. India is amulticultural country where we should have unblemished faithin a temple, a mosque, a gurudwara or a church. You cannotjuxtapose the two," BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.
He alleged Ramesh has made a political statement here andadvised him to instead concentrate "salvaging the batteredimage of the UPA government". BJP maintained that one should not get into the debateof what- a temple or a toilet- is more important.
"While (public) toilets, which have to be built by theadministration, are necessary, religion is important as peoplehave faith in it. It would be good for Mr Ramesh that out ofhis exuberance he stops making such comments which willdestroy the fine fabric of religion and faith," Rudy said.