Milk suppliers agitate against unfair pricing by private companies

New Delhi, Apr 25 (ANI): Milk suppliers from across northern India gathered in New Delhi on Wednesday and carried out a protest rally over unfair pricing by private companies.

Holding placards and shouting slogans, protesters marched in unison pressing for their demands and urging the central government to intervene immediately.

Mohan Singh Ahluwalia, a representative of dairy farmers, accused that central government treating harshly with them and turning a deaf ear to their demands.

"This hooliganism by police will not be tolerated by us. Police authorities have already arrested 6000 milk suppliers. The New Delhi border has been sealed and our people are not being allowed to enter. The police have treated milk suppliers, farmers who have gathered here today harshly and we condemn it. We had gathered outside the parliament in view of our demands and were arrested," said Ahluwalia.

Police officials were deployed in periphery of the parliament as protesters earlier announced that they would attempt to surround it and protest.

Another activist, Udit Raj also voiced his resentment against middlemen reaping huge profits at the cost of dairy farmers.

"Milk is obtained from dairy farmers at cheaper prices and the same milk is sold by private companies at a higher price. The middleman ends making a lot of profit and farmers bear the brunt with miniscule profits. The farmers are ripped off their profits. The middlemen have eaten the country and left farmers and end users at their mercy," said Raj.

Last Wednesday, the milk suppliers had faxed a letter to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh about the huge wealth amassed by private companies and complained that they were not adequately compensated by them.

In the letter, they also mentioned that the private milk companies sold the milk at an increased price and they bought it from them at a much lower price. (ANI)