Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday clarified her Government’s stance on the controversial “dining hall” issue saying the order to construct dining halls in minority-dominated government schools was an old circular which had been withdrawn since.

The ruling Trinamool Congress ran into a political firestorm following reports that the Bengal government had issued a circular to construct dining halls in schools where more than 70 percent of the students came from the minority community.

Even as Bengal BJP president and MP Dilip Ghosh attacked Banerjee on the Twitter questioning the motive behind the discriminatory move, she told reports in the Assembly that the order had been revoked and that some officer had erringly dredged the dead issue up. The Chief Minister would not however provide details of when the order was issued and when it was revoked.

Ghosh however referred to an order issued by a government officer from Coochbehar. The June 25 order apparently directed the school inspector to furnish details of schools with more than 70 percent minority students. “This is for sending a proposal to the aforesaid department for construction of dining hall for mid-day meal in schools,” the order said.

Even as Ghosh asked uncomfortable questions wondering why same facilities could not be given to the Hindu students and why there should any discrimination be made at all in the name of religion the Chief Minister hurriedly intervened saying the order was an old one and had been withdrawn by the government.

She told reporters, “this is an old circular which has already been withdrawn. I think some errant officer dredged out an old circular and issued it without the government’s knowledge,” adding the decision was however in line with a “government of India guideline” form minority development.

Replying to pointed questions the Chief Minister said the order was never made to discriminate between communities.

State Minority Affairs Minister Giasuddin Mollah however could not remember whether the circular was at all withdrawn. Apparently putting fuel to the controversy he said the move was non-discriminatory and would help all the communities alike.

Sources in the Department said the move was part of the Government’s plan to spend Rs 200 crore for minority development.

Suffering a massive alienation from the Hindu vote base allegedly for her Government’s policy of minority appeasement the TMC had lost a whopping 12 parliamentary seats in the recently concluded general elections.

Both the Congress and the Left also criticized the Government move to launch community-oriented facilities. “This is an unconstitutional order. You cannot discriminate between communities,” CPI(M) central committee member and legislative party leader Sujan Chakrabarty said.