Bengaluru, 18 June

Amid a controversy over the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) allowing dairy giant Amul to open retail outlets at Metro stations in the City, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) was asked set up Nandini outlets at such stations.

Shivakumar’s response comes in the wake of criticism from several organisations, who accused the State government of favouring Amul over KMF’s own dairy brand, Nandini.

"The KMF has been instructed to submit an application to BMRCL to open Nandini outlets at eight Metro stations," he told reporters here. 

“BMRCL had issued a global tender and Amul was the sole applicant. We have now directed KMF to apply as well. KMF will open Nandini outlets in eight Metro stations. Amul has already opened outlets at two stations. It is not appropriate to shut down existing ones. We’ve asked BMRCL to allow Nandini outlets at the remaining stations," Shivakumar said.

Additional outlets are planned at Pattandur Agrahara, Indiranagar, Trinity Circle, Sir M Visvesvaraya, Jayanagara, Majestic, National College, and Banashankari stations.

A BMRCL official told PTI that Amul currently operates outlets at Benniganahalli and Byappanahalli Metro stations.

The official added that Nandini had previously opened outlets at MG Road, Mahalakshmi, and Vijayanagar stations. Of these, only the Vijayanagar outlet remains operational. “For us, both Nandini and Amul are equal. Whoever pays the rent will be allowed to operate,” the official said.

The move has reignited the debate between Amul and the KMF’s flagship brand Nandini.

Tensions over Amul’s presence in the State first escalated in December 2022, following Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to KMF facilities in Mandya. It triggered concerns among farmers and political parties about a possible attempt by the Gujarat-based dairy giant – viewed as an outsider- to expand its footprint at the expense of Nandini. 

During his visit, Shah called for cooperation between Amul and KMF, suggesting joint efforts could lead to primary dairies in every village within three years. He also mentioned the possibility of technical support from Amul to Nandini.

BMRCL had issued a global tender and Amul was the sole applicant. We have now directed KMF to apply as well. KMF will open Nandini outlets in eight Metro stations. Amul has already opened outlets at two stations. It is not appropriate to shut down existing ones. We’ve asked BMRCL to allow Nandini outlets at the remaining stations

DK Shivakimar, Deputy Chief Minister 

If the Congress govt truly intended to promote Nandini, the tender should have ensured KMF a level playing field from the beginning. Calling it a “global tender” but receiving only one application raises serious doubts about transparency and outreach. The process appears flawed.

PC Mohan, BJP MP 

DKS says e-khata campaign to go on for a month

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that e-khatas will start being delivered from page 1 July in the City. However, he flagged a low turnout and said that the campaign would go one for a month. 

“We have designed a campaign for disbursal of e-khatas in Bengaluru. The campaign was kicked off on a pilot basis in Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda’s constituency,” he said.  “As many as 25,000 e-khatas are ready and they will be delivered to the doorsteps from 1 July. There are about 25 lakh residences and only about 5 lakh people have uploaded the documents. The campaign will go on for a month”.

Replying to a query if there was a discussion on issuing B khatas, he said, “This has been discussed in the Cabinet meeting. We will make an announcement after deliberating on the legal aspects.”