All-India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) national president Dr Ashok Dhawale and AIKS Maharashtra general secretary Dr Ajit Nawale have asked three newly-elected MPs of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA-INDIA) from the milk belt of Maharashtra Dr Amol Kolhe (NCP), Bhausaheb Wakchaure (SS), and Nilesh Lanke (NCP), to take up the cause of milk farmers of Maharashtra in Parliament.
After congratulating them on their resounding victory over their BJP-NDA rivals, the AIKS leaders apprised them of the milk farmers struggle which is intensifying in the state under the leadership of the AIKS and the Milk Farmers Joint Struggle Committee, and requested them to support it. All three MPs agreed not only to support, but also to take the initiative in this struggle, an official AIKS communique claimed.
Farmers in Maharashtra are currently getting as low as Rs 24-27 per litre for cow milk, which is being sold in the market for Rs 56-60 per litre, the AIKS leaders noted. The low price to farmers is because of faulty state government policies, adulteration of milk, and the brand war in the state.
While Gujarat has only one milk brand Amul, and Karnataka has only one brand Nandini, Maharashtra has over 350 brands of milk, leading to cut-throat competition and subsequent loot of both farmers and consumers. In addition, while 3.5 lakh tonnes of milk powder is lying unsold in the country, the Modi government has recently given permission for the import of 10,000 tonnes, to please its foreign masters.
In such a situation, it was pointed out, milk farmers across Maharashtra have launched an agitation with the main demand of giving Rs 40 per litre for cow milk, along with other important demands. Demonstrations, rasta roko, and other forms of struggle are being used by thousands of milk farmers, putting the BJP-controlled state government on the defensive.
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