Modi's bold toilet claim in question as India marks Gandhi's birthday

NEW DELHI - India was due to be declared "open-defecation free" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, although experts question his bold claim that all 1.3 billion people in the country have access to a toilet.

Modi made his "latrines for all" pledge when he first assumed office in 2014 and is hailing the project's success as India celebrates the 150th anniversary of the birth of independence hero Mahatma Gandhi, a sanitation champion.

Since being elected, Modi's government says it has built almost 100 million toilets, winning the leader plaudits abroad, including an award from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation last week.