Speaking to CNN-IBN, Jairam Ramesh said, 'I wish Modi had discovered this 20 years earlier then we would not have communal riots across the country like the Babri Masjid episode.'

Environment minister today attacked Narendra Modi over his 'toilets over temple' comment by saying that he wised that Modi had discovered that twenty years back.

Speaking to CNN-IBN, he said, "I have said this in my home state many times and I say it here with courage, despite my public image. Toilets first and then temples. On 5th of October, in Sewagram in Wardha where Gandhiji had his ashram in the 30s, I made this comment."

Gujarat CM Narendra Modi had on Wednesday said that he believed that building toilets was more important than building temples though he said that he should not be saying that because he was a Hindutva leader.

He added, "I still believe...we need more toilets than temples. I wish Modi had discovered this 20 years earlier then we would not have communal riots across the country like the Babri Masjid episode. I wish this enlightenment had dawned on him before he became the orchestrator of Mr Advani's Rath Yatra, which caused untold misery on people and brought about a lasting communal divide."

According to him, in his blind pursuit of the prime ministerial post, Narendra Modi seems to be willing to make whatever statements are necessary to appeal to what ever section of society he wants to appeal. "I spoke out of conviction, Modi speaks out of compulsion," he added.

He said, "When I spoke, Rajeev Pratap Rudy said I should respect the fine line between faith and religion. Then he went on to say that the BJP maintains that one should not get into the debate of whether a temple or toilet is more important. Prakash Javadekar also attacked me."

He also said that when he had made that particular comment, activists presumably from BJP had protested in front of his house with black flags and thrown bottles of urine. "I wonder where they are now? When Mr Modi has suddenly discovered the value of toilets," he said.