'Sons of the soil' campaign in Maharashtra

{image-india mah_29022008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Mumbai, Feb 29 : Raj Thackeray's broadside against non-Marathis in Maharashtra shows no signs of abating. Milk politics has now taken centre stage in the State, with Mumbaikars waking up to find Marathi-speaking youngsters at their doorsteps with packets of milk instead of their regular Uttar Pradesh or Bihari-origin milkman.

This 'sons of the soil' campaign, launched by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, is aimed at encouraging Marathi youth to take up milk selling as a profession and oust north Indians from the trade. Mumbai's daily demand for milk hovers around four million litres, much of which comes from the western and northern parts of the metropolis. North Indians control the city's milk production and distribution. Thackeray's campaign has gone down well with many Marathis. "These people (MNS) want to promote Marathi people by giving them a chance to take up professions, which till now were considered the domain of north Indians. Today, we are 110 people in this business and are having a sale of 1, 000 litres of milk. We are doing so well that we are sure of earning anywhere around 30, 000 rupees in this business," claimed Satish Dhavale, a Marathi milkman.

The milkmen from Uttar Pradesh, however, feel there is enough room for everyone in the milk distribution business. "Our business will not be affected in any way by the entry of Marathis into the milk selling business. The customers will go on taking milk from their regular milkman. We do not think it will affect our business in any way," said Sudhir Yadav. The MNS plans to train its youth in other business ventures such as manning roadside snack stalls.

ANI