Mamata govt to construct dining rooms in Muslim-majority schools; BJP, CPI-M slam move

"The West Bengal Government has issued a circular whereby it has directed the school authorities where 70 % or more students are from the Muslim community to reserve a dining hall with seating arrangements for them," Ghosh tweeted.

"Why this discrimination between the students on the basis of religion? Is there some other malafide motive behind this segregation? Another conspiracy ?," he asked.

West Bengal's Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department (MAMED) has called for an urgent list of government schools which have more than 70 percent Muslim students.

"In reference to the no:1173-MD/15011/10/207: dt:14/06/19 received from the Special Secretary, MA and ME Department, Government of West Bengal, you are requested to send the names of the government / government-aided schools having minority students more than 70 per cent as per format given below within June 28 positively. This is for sending a proposal to the aforesaid department for construction of dining hall for mid-day meal in schools," the directive issued by the District Officer (Minority Affairs) in Coochbehar states, reported India Today.

The circular has been sent to the district education officer and the district inspector of schools to compile a list of state-run and state-aided schools with data mentioning the percentage of minority students in the institution by June 28, reported the magazine.

CPI(M) MLA Sujan Chakraborty condemns the move

He told India Today, "This is condemnable...Students cannot be discriminated on the basis of religion...If a dining hall is being created it should be for all...The basic principle of the mid-day meal scheme is equality."