Pune: Despite assurances by some milk unions to increase milk prices per litre by ₹3, the Raju Shetti-led Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) is firm on its agitation to block milk supply to major cities, beginning on Sunday midnight.
The Kolhapur District Milk Cooperative, popularly known as ‘Gokul’, has decided to back Mr. Shetti’s agitation by refusing to supply milk in western Maharashtra (including Mumbai and Pune) only on Monday. The protest is expected to receive overwhelming support from milk producers in Sangli and Ahmednagar districts.
Earlier on Saturday, certain milk unions, in the hope of breaking the impasse with the SSS, had promised to raise milk prices by ₹3 per litre beginning July 21.
However, Mr. Shetti said the offer is unsatisfactory and that his outfit is firm on farmers receiving a subsidy of ₹5 per litre. “The agitation will continue until the government agrees to our demands. Despite the current market rate for milk around ₹32-35 per litre, farmers are getting a paltry ₹17-18 per litre. This situation must change,” Mr. Shetti said.
On Sunday, the police took 25 SSS activists in preventive custody in Kolhapur district, where it is based.
In Amravati district, SSS activists attempted to torch a milk tanker in Warud tehsil. In Osmanabad district, SSS activists attempted to block a milk tanker.
Minister for Dairy Development Mahadev Jankar has said the government will take action against outfits and milk producers participating in Mr. Shetti’s agitation.
“Mumbai has enough supplies to last for 10 days. The police have been directed to ensure milk tankers are protected and supply is not affected,” Mr. Jankar said.
Mr. Shetti, a former BJP ally, said the agitation will commence at Pandharpur. “The agitation will begin after offering milk to Lord Vithoba at Pandharpur where lakhs of farmers will be there for the annual Palkhi pilgrimage. If people from urban centres want milk from us, they are welcome to come to villages and obtain milk directly from farmers for free. We will be distributing free milk to the needy and schoolchildren in the villages,” he said.
The MP from Hatkanangle has exhorted farmers not to sell cow milk to dairies. Mr. Shetti has claimed support from farmer outfits in Karnataka.
Mr. Shetti’s organisation will be staging roadblocks on vital milk supply routes to Mumbai, and halting milk tankers. It has planned to cut off the supply to Mumbai from Sangli, Satara, and Kolhapur districts.