Amul-Nandini was made emotional issue due to Karnataka polls: Nirmala Sitharaman
The Hindu
To suddenly say Amul is being brought to Karnataka to kill Nandini is “brazen”, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on April 23, as she alleged that the Gujarat-based dairy cooperative had entered the State when Congress was in power in Bengaluru.
To suddenly say Amul is being brought to Karnataka to kill Nandini is "brazen", Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on April 23, as she alleged that the Gujarat-based dairy cooperative had entered the State when Congress was in power in Bengaluru.
The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) sells milk, curd and other dairy products under the brand name Nandini.
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She said things were tweaked, twisted and made an emotional issue because it is election time in Karnataka, where Assembly polls would be held on May 10.
"In India's scheme of things, every State has its own milk cooperative. Karnataka's Nandini — whoever doesn't recognise it? Even now as I've come, I had Nandini milk, curd, peda... Of course in Delhi I'll buy Amul. I represent Karnataka [but] in Delhi, if Nandini isn't available, I'm mentally not a sanyasi to say I won't drink milk if Nandini isn't available. I still buy Amul. That's not being against Karnataka," Ms. Sitharaman said.
Strengthening Nandini and dairy farmers in Karnataka had never been a question, she said, adding that it would continue to happen. Nandini too sold its products in other States such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh just like other State dairies' products are also available in Karnataka, she pointed out.
"Good competition I would say... The idea is therefore to strengthen India in every aspect. That's why India became the world's largest milk producer," she said.
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