India, Feb. 19 -- A row has erupted after the Mahayuti government on Tuesday issued an order cancelling a 2014 circular which granted Muslims 5% reservation benefits under the Special Backward Class A (SBC-A) category. The circular was based on an ordinance including Muslims under the SBC-A category which was never converted into law.

Opposition parties alleged the move smacked of the BJP's anti-minority stance.

"The BJP-led state government set up several committees to reinstate reservation for various castes. But they allowed Muslim reservation to lapse," said former AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel.

Tuesday's order said the "Muslim reservation ordinance lapsed on December 23, 2014 as it was not converted into law. So the order and circular re...