Madurai:
MDMK leader Vaiko today demanded withdrawal of the Rs 10 per litre hike in the price of 'Aavin'
milk announced by the AIADMK Government in Tamil Nadu.
In a statement in Madurai, Vaiko termed the reasons given by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam "funny" behind the hike in prices announced on Saturday and said under the guise of increasing procurement price, the government could not drastically hike the selling price and pass on the burden on customers.
He added the price of milk, sold by the state-run cooperative Aavin, had been increased from Rs.18.50 in 2011 to Rs.34 per litre now.
Referring to the Chief Minister's statement, he said when a "ruling party man had been arrested on charges of adulterating" milk and earning crores of rupees, the claim of giving quality milk would not be accepted by anyone.
Similarly, the increase in procurement price at Rs 5 per litre for buffalo milk and Rs. 4 per litre for cow's milk was not commensurate with milk production cost, he said.
Aavin was procuring 21.50 lakh litres of milk daily for sale. As the cost of cattle feed including hay had gone up, the cattle owners were demanding a hike of Rs 9 per litre for buffalo milk and Rs 7 per litre for cow's milk.