Gandhinagar: With milk producers demanding the right to sell milk to the dairy of their choice, Dehgam taluka observed a complete bandh on Thursday. Following the call for a ‘Dehgam Bandh’ given by the Cattle Breeders Coordination Committee, traders kept their establishments closed since early morning and voluntarily supported the shutdown by suspending business activities.

Meanwhile, early in the morning, when the entire taluka was preparing to observe the bandh, a vehicle belonging to Uttam Dairy arrived to collect milk from villages. As soon as the agitating cattle breeders came to know about it, they stopped the vehicle on the road and poured the milk carried in the vehicle onto the road as a mark of protest. The cattle breeders alleged that they are being forced to supply milk to Uttam Dairy against their will.

The protesting milk producers said that they were earlier supplying milk to Uttam Dairy. However, due to dissatisfaction over the prices paid by Uttam Dairy, they decided to shift their supply to Madhur Dairy, which, according to them, offers better rates along with bonus benefits.

However, Uttam Dairy obtained a stay order from the court restraining the farmers from supplying milk to Madhur Dairy. Due to this legal order, the farmers said they are currently unable to sell their milk to the dairy of their choice.

The local Traders Association and the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) have also extended public support to the agitation. To prevent any untoward incident, police have intensified patrolling across the taluka and are closely monitoring the situation.

The Cattle Breeders Coordination Committee has warned that if their demand to allow milk supply to Madhur Dairy is not accepted by March 25, the agitation will be intensified and highway blockades may be carried out in the coming days. DeshGujarat