Amul not entering Karnataka, Congress spreading rumours: BJP

Gujarat-based dairy cooperative society Amul is facing a backlash from locals in Karnataka after the company announced its entry into Bengaluru's dairy market.

The dairy brand had tweeted: ''A new wave of freshness with milk and curd is coming to Bengaluru. More information coming soon. #LaunchAlert. From Kengeri to Whitefield, wishing everyone a Taaza day.''

In another tweet, Amul said: ''The #Amul family is bringing in some Taaza into #Bengaluru city. More updates coming in soon. #LaunchAlert. Taaza arriving soon in Bengaluru."

While the opposition parties have charged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government was out to finish 'Nandini', the saffron party accused the Congress of unleashing a 'misinformation campaign' over Amul's presence in Karnataka.

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya asserted that BJP has done far more than the opposition party to strengthen the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) and its products are sold under the brand name Nandini.

''Amul is NOT entering Karnataka. Both Amul and KMF sell their products across quick-commerce platforms. KMF's turnover went up by (Rs) 10,000 crore after BJP came to power in 2019. In 2022, turnover stood at (Rs) 25,000 crore, of which (Rs) 20,000 crore went back to farmers of Karnataka,'' BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya tweeted.

His tweet came after Congress leader Siddaramaiah took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi following Amul's announcement of its plans to sell milk and curd in the Bengaluru market. With Modi visiting the State on Sunday, the former Karnataka chief minister asked if the purpose of his trip was "to loot the State?"

Malviya tweeted again: ''There is a reason why India doesn't TRUST Congress. They LIE! Latest being the misinformation campaign that Karnataka Milk Federation, which owns Nandini, is going to merge with Amul.'' The BJP has done far more to strengthen KMF and make Nandini a global brand, he claimed.

''KMF is the nation's second-largest milk cooperative and has depots in Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. 15 per cent of KMF's total sales are outside Karnataka. Nandini is exported to Singapore, UAE and many other countries. Amul and KMF are NOT merging," the BJP leader further said.

It may be recalled that during Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Mandya in December 2022 where he inaugurated a mega dairy of KMF with a capacity to process 10 lakh litres a day at a cost of Rs 260 crore, the Opposition had targeted him for his purported remark that Nandini and Amul should come together.

The Opposition alleged that the statement meant that the two cooperative brands should be merged together. However, both Chief Minister Bommai and State Cooperative Minister S.T. Somashekar have rubbished it.

Around 10 days ago, another controversy broke out when the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had directed the KMF to print 'Dahi' on the curd packets along with the local nomenclature. The Opposition, especially JDS, had termed it as an attempt to 'impose' Hindi on the people of the State.