Now Nitish Kumar stakes claim to 'toilets first' policy

Patna: While Narendra Modi and the Congress squabble over copyright for the "toilets first, temples later" idea, Nitish Kumar has said that those who do not have a toilet in their home will not be allowed to contest local body elections in Bihar.

The Bihar Chief Minster also claimed that the "toilets first..." slogan was pioneered by his state administration six years ago.

"Officials popularised the concept among the people, but some people are now talking about toilet first and temple later," he said, without naming political rival Narendra Modi, at a function in Patna on World Sanitation Day yesterday.

Mr Kumar said his initiative to increase public awareness on sanitation and ensure that more toilets are built in his state would entail amending the Panchayati Raj Act. Panchayats or village bodies that achieved 100 per cent sanitation would get five lakh and a certificate, he said, adding that he aims at ensuring that every household in Bihar has a toilet by 2020.

Mr Modi, who is the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, had said last month that despite being identified as a "Hindutva leader" he championed building toilets before temples. The Congress' Jairam Ramesh quickly pointed out that when he had said the same thing months before Mr Modi did, members of the BJP and affiliated organisations had attacked him. (Modi got his enlightenment 22 years late: Jairam on 'toilets before temples' remark)

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In June, Mr Kumar truncated his 17-year alliance with the BJP and attributed the break-up to its decision to place Mr Modi in charge of its national campaign.  Mr Kumar said this suggested that despite its denials, the BJP was planning to pick Mr Modi as its prime ministerial candidate, which he said he would not support.  Mr Kumar is among Mr Modi's detractors who say he has lost the confidence of Muslims after the communal riots in Gujarat.  The violence in 2002 took place during Mr Modi's first term as chief minister.