Karnataka defends eight-rupee milk price hike as support for dairy farmers

UPDATE - follow-up to Hike to help farmers, says CM; Ashok accuses govt. of placing burden on people: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar defended an eight-rupee milk price hike on Thursday, stating the move aims to support dairy farmers and prevent losses.

Details of the Hike

Following a Cabinet meeting that approved the increase, the Chief Minister noted that input costs, packaging prices, and transportation expenses have all risen over the past year. He added that while some demanded a hike of twelve to fifteen rupees, the government settled on eight rupees after consultations. He also pointed out that MLAs from both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council demanded the price increase across party lines.

Opposition Reaction

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition R. Ashok accused the State government of placing an extra financial burden on the public. He questioned if raising essential goods and tax costs was the Congress government's guarantee to the people, warning of a protest while citizens already struggle with high prices.

Context

Milk price adjustments are often used by state governments to balance the rising production costs faced by dairy unions and farmers against the cost of living for urban and rural consumers. Such decisions frequently spark political friction between ruling parties and opposition groups over household expenses.