Bengaluru, March 14 (NationPress) On Saturday, Flipkart's announcement of selling milk at just Rs 1 has sparked a significant controversy in Karnataka.

The state government has reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for intervention and plans to file a complaint with the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

In a press briefing in Bengaluru, D.K. Suresh, the President of the Bangalore Urban, Rural and Ramanagara District Co-operative Milk Producers' Societies Union Limited (BAMUL), expressed concerns over the impact this initiative could have on the agricultural community in the region.

Suresh noted that a formal complaint would be lodged against Flipkart with the CCI in New Delhi for allegedly offering one litre of milk for the unreasonably low price of Rs 1.

He stated, "Flipkart's decision to sell one litre of milk for just Rs 1 is purely a profit-driven move that threatens to dismantle the farming community. It is imperative for both the central and state governments to act swiftly, or we risk widespread protests nationwide."

The BAMUL President pointed out that such cutthroat competition aimed at market dominance ultimately harms farmers.

He mentioned that approximately Rs 2,000 crore has been invested in this initiative, questioning the ethical use of shareholders' funds.

Suresh warned that this strategy could undermine established cooperative milk unions that have been in existence since before the country gained independence.

"Multinational corporations are jeopardizing farmers' welfare. Flipkart must clarify in its advertisements the duration for which it intends to maintain such low prices. They should retract this policy that endangers the agricultural community," Suresh asserted.

He added that around 14.5 lakh litres of milk have already been sold under this promotion, and the advertisements have been extensively disseminated.

"Public funds are being utilized to lure customers. The company should reveal how long this pricing strategy will last," he stated.

When asked about the sales figures for Nandini milk, Suresh acknowledged the presence of various companies in the market.

"It's not just Nandini. Sales within the BAMUL union have decreased by approximately 40,000 to 50,000 litres. We need to investigate when this decline began," he remarked.

In response to inquiries about potential influences behind the initiative, Suresh indicated that further information was still being collected.

"I've observed several advertisements. I will also confer with officials. It is unacceptable to exploit the farming community in the name of business. If domestic entities are involved, that is even more troubling," he added.

He mentioned that farmers currently receive between Rs 38 and Rs 40 per litre for milk.

"How is it feasible for anyone to sell milk for Rs 1 per litre? We need to ascertain the sources from which they are procuring this milk," he remarked.

Suresh encouraged the media to bring attention to this issue on a national level and to support farmers.

"I urge farmers to initiate protests. The Union government must take preventive measures," he stated.

When questioned about advising farmers against selling milk to such companies, Suresh highlighted the difficulty in tracing procurement sources.

"We are uncertain about their milk sourcing – whether from bulk suppliers or elsewhere. I am also coordinating to collect samples to verify if milk powder is being added. The samples will undergo laboratory testing. If our cooperative institutions face setbacks, the repercussions will directly impact farmers," he concluded.