Jairam Ramesh's temple-toilet remark draws protest

Activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal Sunday sat on an hour-long protest outside the house of union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh here, seeking an apology for his remark that the country needed more toilets than temples.

Ramesh Friday remarked that "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 the toilets and cleanliness".

The opposition and others have also criticised Ramesh's remarks.

Meanwhile, police said they do not have any information about the protest before Jairam Ramesh's house.

The ministry for rural development is set to launch a nationwide sanitation drive, Nirmal Bharat Yatra, to end open defecation.

The drive was meant to be launched Thursday, but was indefinitely put off after heavy rain lashed Wardha, Maharashtra, from where the drive was set to begin. Mahatma Gandhi's Sewagram ashram is located at wardha.