South

How a tweet from Amul sparked a political storm in poll-bound Karnataka

April 9, 2023
Bharat Times

Hashtags like #GoBackAmul and #SaveNandini are trending on Twitter.

New Delhi:

Four days ago, a tweet by dairy giant Amul has kicked up a political storm in poll-bound Karnataka with scathing attacks against the ruling BJP. It began with an announcement that Gujarat-based Amul would start online delivery in Bengaluru, troubling the people associated with its formidable dairy brand, Nandini, in the state. Congress and JD(S) leaders have accused the BJP of an “evil plan” and “conspiracy” following speculation of a merger between the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which owns the Nandini brand, and Gujarat’s Anand Milk Union Limited (Amul). ” Accused of. To destroy the state’s own brand. He has asked Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, whose home state is Gujarat, to hold a referendum in Karnataka on whether Amul should be allowed to enter the southern state’s market.

Hashtags like #GoBackAmul, and #SaveNandini have been trending on Twitter ever since Amul announced its entry into the Karnataka market.

A hotel body in Karnataka has also decided to use only Nandini milk to “support the (dairy) farmers of the state”.

Congress leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday, “All Kannadigas should take a pledge not to buy Amul products”.

Siddaramaiah said, “All Kannadigas must unanimously oppose the usurpation of KMF, which has been created for the welfare of the country’s farmers. All Kannadigas must take a pledge not to buy Amul products.”

“Apart from imposing Hindi and land treason by intruding within the state borders, now the BJP government is going to cheat the farmers by shutting down the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which is the livelihood of lakhs of people,” he said. of dairy farming families in the country.

The Congress has accused the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, both from Gujarat, of trying to bring Amul into the state “through the backdoor” as the merger efforts apparently did not succeed.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said there should be no politics on Amul and Nandini will become the number one brand in the country.

“Nandini’s products are sold in other states and all steps will be taken to outdo Amul in the competitive market,” he said.

Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar said there was no need for an external brand as Nandini is a “better” brand than Amul.

“We want to protect our milk and our farmers. We already have Nandini which is a better brand than Amul… We don’t need any Amul… Our water, our milk and our soil are strong, Mr Shivakumar told news agency ANI.

Siddaramaiah has also sought Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s immediate intervention in the matter.

The Janata Dal (Secular) has also slammed Amul for allegedly trying to capture the Nandini brand. “In a situation where KMF Nandini’s milk, ghee and butter are not available in all parts of the state, what does this development of Gujarat’s Amul company for online marketing indicate? Does it not cast a shadow over the work of countless Kannadigas Who survives on Nandini’s milk?” the party said on Twitter.

“This development appears to be part of an evil plan to phase out KMF Nandini, a proud institution of our country. When direct merger is not possible, such ploys come into play. If we sit quietly saying that That it is competing with a huge conglomerate, the future will be grim, said the JD(S).

JD(S) number two HD Kumaraswamy took a jibe at the PM Modi-led government with the “one nation, one Amul” remark.

He tweeted in Kannada, “‘One Nation, One Amul, One Milk and One Gujarat’ has become the official policy of the central government. Hence, Amul is strangling KMF by standing in support of it.”

The latest controversy comes barely a week after opposition leaders and pro-Kannada groups slammed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for allegedly imposing Hindi by adding the word ‘yogurt’ to the local nomenclature ‘Mosru’ (मोसरू) on Nandini products. Was reprimanded for. meaning curd). However, after facing severe backlash, FSSAI took back the decision and said that milk unions can use the word ‘yogurt’ followed by the local nomenclature in brackets.

Karnataka will go to polls on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13.