India, Sept. 11 -- A school run by a BJP MLA in the district was on Thursday forced to withdraw a circular advising students not to carry root vegetables such as onion, garlic, potato and beetroot in their lunchboxes during the Paryushan period observed by the Jain community, as it triggered a controversy and backlash from local political parties including the MNS.

While the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) staged a protest, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said the 'restriction' was "worse than love jihad" and demanded that the government shut down the school.

MNS spokesperson Yogesh Khaire termed the circular a form of "food jihad".

Mira Bhayandar MLA Narendra Mehta, who runs the Seven Square Academy, said the school ...