West Bengal: BJP alleges bias in dining hall circular, CM says conforming to Centre’s guideline

West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh had posted a copy of the circular online on Thursday and slammed the administration for the move, alleging discrimination and triggering a row.

READ | Cooch Behar DM had issued notification: BJP sees appeasement in ‘midday meal dining room’

However, Banerjee clarified that the circular was not meant to divide students on the basis of religion. “The idea is to pool in funds from different departments so that the scheme can be effectively implemented. It was not supposed to divide students in any way. This was supposed to be for schools that don’t have dining halls and where students are forced to eat outside,” Banerjee said.

MoS for Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education, Giasuddin Mollah, said they are just utilising funds allocated for madrasa education. “Funds have been allotted for madrasa education and we are utilising it by issuing such a circular. We have asked the state-run schools, which have 70 per cent or more minority students, to construct a dining hall for mid-day meal. We are not doing anything extra for the minority students, as funds for such measures have been given to us by both the state and central governments,” he said.

On Friday evening, the State Department of Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education said the move was to implement the mid-day meal scheme successfully with necessary infrastructure and the facilities created are used by all. “Similarly, for schools with substantial SC/ST students, such critical gap funding is provided by the Backward Classes Welfare Department. However, the assets/ facilities created from such pooled funds are open to all,” it said in a statement.

Congress MLA and Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan said, “The government cannot segregate… on the basis of religion.”

CPM MLA Sujan Chakraborty said, “If a dining hall is being constructed, it should be for all. We condemn this move.”