History repeats itself and those who are unaware, the origin of Amul is traceable to farmers who rebelled against the monopoly of British-supported Polson during the 1940s. Farmers of two Gujarati villages joined hands, formed a cooperative in 1946.
After the Independence, they emerged strong to resist Bombay Milk's monopoly with technical upgradation, pasteurization of milk and finally replacing Polson's monopoly in Bombay. The union's objective was to provide proper marketing facilities for the local milk producers and it saw success under Verghese Kurien before taking a pan-India shape under the white revolution.
But now, Amul is emerging as a monopoly in the country to takeover Karnataka's own "Amul model" Nandini under Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF).
JD(S) leader H. D. Kumaraswamy is openly calling for resistance coinciding with the voting that is taking place on May 10. On Saturday he called upon the people of Karnataka to oppose the move to sell Amul milk in the state.
"Amul is being pushed into Karnataka from backdoor with the support of the Central government. The Amul is strangulating the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) and the farmers. Kannada people should rebel against Amul," Kumaraswamy, the former chief minister, stated.
"We as Kannadigas should oppose Amul and protect the interest of Karnataka farmers unitedly. Our people and customers should use Nandini products on priority and save the livelihood of farmers," he stated.
The Karnataka government had allotted a big plot to Amul in Koramangala of Bengaluru for cheap price. When the government here had shown such a magnanimous gesture, Amul is "conspiring" against milk producers and KMF, he charged.
Amul had to be obligated to as during the tenure of former Prime Minister Deve Gowda, special ice cream unit was established in Yelahanka and KMF is till date producing large quantity of ice cream for Amul, Kumaraswamy maintained.
Weakens Nandini brand
It is very clear that BJP's double engine government is planning to push milk producers to streets and "enslave" them to people of Gujarat. The "suspicious silence" of the Karnataka BJP government and KMF has led to many suspicions, Kumaraswamy stated.
Amul is planning to give competition to Nandini which is not required and weaken Nandini brand. The "unhealthy" competition between two cooperatives is uncalled for, he said.
"The Amul management is bent on finishing off Kannadigas and KMF. Amul wants to stop its only competitor Nandini on its own turf. One nation, one Amul, one milk , one Gujarat seems to be the official stand of the Central government," Kumaraswamy alleged.
(With inputs from IANS)
