Ahmedabad/Mahesana/Anand: Police today detained activists of outfit Thakor Sena including its self styled head Alpesh Thakor even as its so-called stop milk supply agitation demanding loan-waiver for farmers of Gujarat, which many saw as yet another gimmick to get some easy publicity, proved to be a complete fiasco.

Alpesh who in the name of some communities wants to venture into politics in upcoming assembly polls with some of his supporters poured milk on SG high way near Zydus hospital crossing here today. He along with some of his supporters were detained.

In Mahesana some of his supporters were detained while trying to do similar protest near Doodhsagar Dairy. Such scene was witnessed at some other places including Anand.

Contrary to claims of Alpesh Thakor and rumours about shortage of milk today, milk supply was as normal as any other day.

People did not feel any difficulty in getting milk from parlours across the state.

Meanwhile, Thakor claimed that the shortage would be felt tomorrow as the milk producers of around 10 thousand villages did not supply milk today.

Hoping to gain some support of farmers for his political venture and therefore demanding immediate loan-waiver for farmers in Gujarat Alpesh claimed that if the dairies did not stop the supply of milk to support the cause, his outfit would go for gherao of dairies from tonight.

Amul statement: No shortage of Amul Milk anywhere in Gujarat

This has reference to the recent reports in print and electronic media regarding shortage of milk in Ahmedabad and other parts of the State.

We wish to assure our esteemed customers not to pay attention to such rumours. There has been no effect on collection of milk at any of the 18500 village milk cooperative societies of Gujarat. Our milk collection in Gujarat was 144 lac litres yesterday and it has increased to 146 lac litres across Gujarat today.

Our sales in Ahmedabad city also has not been affected at all. We are selling 15 lac litres of milk per day in Ahmedabad and 48 lac litres per day across the state of Gujarat.

Shri R S Sodhi, MD GCMMF (Amul) has said that the 36 lac milk producers of Gujarat who are affiliated to 18500 village cooperative societies and 18 District Cooperative Milk Producer Unions of Gujarat are owners of this organisation and the Amul brand. Our farmers in Gujarat get the highest price of milk across India and the weekly payment is to the tune of Rs 450 crores. They have built this organisation by hard work over the last 70 years and they would never allow any consumer to face any hardship by going on strike.

Don’t lend ear to rumours, farmers and milk producers are not going to support vested interest elements: Shanker Chaudhary

Minister of state for health and Chairman of Banas Dairy, a prominent one among the 18 District Milk Cooperative Unions under the umbrella of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), the co-operative body which owns and market brand Amul, Shanker Chaudhary today said that the people should not pay any attention to the rumours regarding shortage of milk in Gujarat.

Hitting out at the stop milk supply agitation of community based outfit Thakor Sena and its self styled head Alpesh Thakor, Chaudhary said that the farmers and cattle owners of Gujarat were not going to support those who for their selfish political motives were out to harm them.

‘Two days’ income of milk supplying farmers and cattle owners in Gujarat is Rs 120 crore. They are the best paid. If some one comes and do something for the good of farmers and cattle owners then it is fine but no one is going to support any body for the issues that harm them,’ the minister who was also targeted by Thakor alleging that he was creating hindrance in the way of loan waiver of the farmers of Gujarat (for which the said agitation is on), said.

He said that people must not lend ear to the rumours regarding shortage of milk. ‘In any case one must also understand that stock of milk sufficient for supply for 3 to 4 days across the state is always maintained,’ he said.

Earlier police today detained scores of activists Thakor Sena including Alpesh Thakor here while they were pouring milk on the SG highway even as their so-called stop milk supply agitation demanding loan-waiver for farmers of Gujarat, which many saw as yet another gimmick to get some easy publicity, proved to be a complete fiasco. Thakor has issued ultimatum of gherao to dairies if they did not stop selling milk.

The GCMMF had also issued a statement saying that there was no shortage of milk in the state and the supply for the day in fact increased to 146 lac liters in comparison to yesterdays 144 lac liters.