It is unacceptable not only to Muslims but also to other religious minorities,' said Irshad Ali Khan, member of the Majlis-e-Shoora, a Muslim body.

'We will urge the government to withdraw such a diktat.'

Muslim Tehwar Committee chief Ausaf Shahmiri Khurram also opposed the directive saying, 'The order infringes the religious freedom of minorities.'

Madhya Pradesh Jamaat-e-Islami Hind spokesman Anwar Shafi claimed it was against the belief of Muslims. 'The Muslim community recites 'Bismillah' before having meals and under no circumstances would recite the 'bhojan mantra' as directed by the minister,' he said.

Several Muslim organisations and leaders - including Hafiz Saghir Jilani Chishti of Jamiat Ulema Chishtia, Maulana Javed of Jamiat Ahle Quraish and Muslim Raeen Panchayat's Noorul Islam - have decided to opppose the move unitedly.

Describing it as an attempt to saffronise the education system, the opposition Congress has also criticised the move. 'India is a secular country where every individual has the right to live as per his/her religious beliefs,' Congress spokesman Arvind Malviya said.

'The midday meal is a central scheme and the state government has no right to implement its agenda on it by asking teachers and students to recite bhojan mantra,' he said.

'Instead of dividing the community, the government should focus on providing quality and nutritious food to children and check malnutrition deaths in the state,' he said.

Another Congress leader, Noori Khan, said, 'Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Education Minister Archana Chitnis could recite whatever they like while taking lunch at their homes, but they don't have any right to impose their will on students.'

The decision to introduce the yogic exercise of surya namaskar in schools had also been opposed by minority community organisations. Later, it was made optional.

(Sanjay Sharma can be contacted at sanjay.s@ians.in)