Setback for Amul: Bengaluru hoteliers support Karnataka's farmers by switching to Nandini Milk
Dairy giant Amul tries entering Karnataka's Bengaluru but the hoteliers group has said that it will only use 'Nandini' products to support the state farmers.
Bengaluru, April 9: Amid a growing controversy over Amul's foray into Karnataka, hoteliers in Bengaluru have decided to use Nandini milk to "support state's farmers".
The Amul controversy began when the Gujarat-based dairy giant started to supply milk in Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka at competitive prices, threatening the local dairy industry. This prompted the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) to launch an anti-Amul campaign, calling for boycotts of the brand and urging people to use only Nandini milk instead.
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In a statement, the Bruhat Bengaluru Hotels Association, without naming Amul, said Kannadigas should only promote Nandini milk products.
"We are all proud of Karnataka's Nandini milk produced by our farmers and it should be encouraged. In our city, clean and delicious coffee stands as the backbone of snacks. And we encourage it with great pride. It is being heard that milk from other states is being shipped to Karnataka recently. We are all Nandini," read a statement from Bruhat Bengaluru Hotels Association.
In response, a number of hoteliers in Bengaluru have now decided to switch to Nandini milk in their restaurants and kitchens. The hoteliers say they are making this move to "support the state's farmers" and protect the local dairy industry.
Earlier, the Congress accused the BJP of hatching a conspiracy to kill the state's formidable dairy brand, Nandini.
On Friday, Congress leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah said "all Kannadigas should pledge not to buy Amul products". His statement followed speculations of a merger between the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) and Gujarat's Anand Milk Union Limited (Amul).
"All Kannadigas have to unanimously resist the usurpation of the KMF, which has been built for the welfare of the farmers of the country. All Kannadigas should pledge not to buy Amul products", Siddaramaiah said.
He further added, "In addition to language treason by the imposition of Hindi and land treason by trespassing within the state borders, now the BJP government is going to betray the farmers by shutting down Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which is the livelihood of millions of dairy farming families in the country."
Siddaramaiah also called on Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai to immediately intervene in the matter and stop Amul from "entering (the state's dairy market) through the back door."
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