Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, June 18: Outsiders versus locals controversy, represented by the Gujarat-based famous dairy brand Amul and Nandini respectively, has resurfaced in Karnataka, but with changed sides.
The BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular), the then ruling combination which were accused by the Congress before the state Assembly elections of favouring “outsider” over the local products Karnataka Milk Federation-run Nandini brand, have now levelled the same charges against the Congress now in power in the state. With fresh kiosks allotted, the Nandini vs. Amul debate has resurfaced, once again highlighting concerns over support for local farmers and brands.
The state government has been criticised by the opposition for allowing Amul to open kiosks at 10 Metro stations in Bengaluru. This, the opposition BJP and JDS has declared, means the ruling Congress was failing to promote the local brand Nandini.
Amul has been given approval to set up the kiosks by the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited, which had floated a tender for this purpose. But the opposition has declared the state should have given those 10 kiosks to Karnataka Milk Federation-run Nandini brand instead.
The Janata Dal (Secular), a former ally of the Congress, took aim at the party and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, in a long X post, with the #SaveNandini hashtag, in Kannada. The JDS accused Mr Shivakumar of having “sold his self-respect for the sake of commission” and slammed the Congress for having “used the Nandini brand” to win votes in the 2023 Assembly election, in which the party scored a surprisingly big win over the BJP.
“Before the elections DK used to boast that the self-respect of Kannadigas is not for sale… today he has put a stop to milk products for those from other states for the sake of commission.” “More than 10 Metro stations in Bengaluru have been allowed to sell milk products from outside the state. The Congress used the Nandini brand, the pride of our farmers and all Kannadigas, for its promotion, (and) forgot about it (after the election) …” the JDS said on X.
The BJP’s PC Mohan has also hit out, saying the Congress had “falsely accused the BJP of favouring outsiders” before the election, but had now “enabled” the “outsiders.” “Ahead of the 2023 Karnataka Assembly election, Congress falsely accused BJP of favouring outsiders. But now, the same Congress government, which oversees BMRCL’s operations and maintenance, has enabled Amul kiosks at 10 Metro stations to displace Nandini. A classic case of hypocrisy.”
Mr Shivakumar’s clarification that Amul was the only applicant in response to the tender floated by the state government failed to convince the opposition. Faced with the backlash from the opposition, Mr Shivakumar later said Karnataka Milk Federation had been told to submit application and would be promptly granted permission to Nandini to open kiosks in eight of the 10 Metro stations. Amul had already opened outlets in two and “it is not appropriate to close down existing outlets,” he said. “We have instructed KMF to submit its application to BMRCL…”
The Amul vs. Nandini issue sparked controversy ahead of the 2023 election, with opposition parties accusing the BJP, then in power in the state and at the centre, of trying to undermine Nandini by backing Amul. The Congress then had turned the issue into a key poll issue.
