After Bengaluru Metro's Amul tie-up sparks row, DK Shivakumar says Nandini outlets to open at 8 stations

Amul outlet

Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on June 18 said the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) has been directed to submit an application to Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to open Nandini outlets at eight stations.

The move comes a day after the BMRCL’s decision to allow Amul to set up kiosks in 10 stations kicked up a row. The Congress, when in opposition, had opposed the firm’s entry into Bengaluru, accusing the BJP, which was in power, of risking livelihood of local farmers.

“BMRCL had floated a global tender, and Amul was the sole applicant. We’ve now instructed KMF to apply. Nandini outlets will come up at eight metro stations,” Shivakumar, also the Bengaluru development minister, told media at his residence in Bengaluru.

Also read: Amul kiosks to come up at 10 Bengaluru metro stations; BMRCL signs agreement

As reported first by Moneycontrol on June 17, BMRCL has signed a licence agreement with Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd, which owns the Amul brand, to set up kiosks at 10 stations.

The development sparked criticism from the opposition Janata Dal (S), which accused Shivakumar of hypocrisy.

“Amul has already opened outlets at two stations (Benniganahalli and Byappanahalli). It wouldn’t be appropriate to close them. We’ve asked BMRCL to allow KMF to set up Nandini outlets at the remaining eight,” Shivakumar said.

“@DKShivakumar, who once claimed to uphold Kannadiga pride, has now sold his self-respect for the sake of commission,” the JD(S) said in a post on X. “Before elections, he ran a #SaveNandini campaign, saying Kannadiga self-respect wasn’t for sale. Now, he’s enabled milk products from other states, sidelining local brands.” “Over 10 metro stations have been allowed to sell milk from other states. After using the Nandini brand - a symbol of farmers’ and Kannadigas’ pride - for its campaign, @INCKarnataka has now sidelined it in favour of outside brands,” JD(S) added.

In the run-up to the 2023 Karnataka assembly elections Amul’s proposed entry into Bengaluru sparked a political row. The Congress had accused the BJP-led state government of allowing Amul’s entry at the cost of Karnataka’s dairy ecosystem and lakhs of local farmers.

KMF, which markets the Nandini brand, expanded into Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to counter Amul’s growing footprint by supplying milk, curd and other products.