SUCI(C) protests milk, curd price hike; opposes bus fare revision

Members of Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) staging a demonstration in Mysuru on Tuesday.

The Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) [SUCI(C)] staged a protest near Ramaswamy Circle in Mysuru on on Tuesday (November 3), condemning the State government’s decision to increase milk and curd prices and its proposal to hike bus fares.

Addressing the protesters, SUCI(C) district secretary B. Ravi said the increase of ₹8 to ₹12 per litre in Nandini milk prices and the consequent ₹14 hike in curd prices would impose an additional financial burden on poor and middle-class families.

Questioning the Karnataka Milk Federation’s (KMF) claim that the additional revenue generated from the price revision would benefit dairy farmers, the party claimed that there was wide gap between the price at which KMF sells milk and the amount paid to milk producers.

It urged the government to provide cattle feed, fodder and veterinary medicines at subsidised rates to ease the financial burden on dairy farmers.

The party also opposed the proposed bus fare hike, stating that commuters were already struggling with rising transport costs and prices of essential commodities. It questioned the government’s decision to cite rising diesel prices as a reason for the proposed fare revision when ₹5,600 crore under the Shakti scheme remained pending, according to the party.

The protesters demanded that the government roll back the milk and curd price hike and withdraw the proposed bus fare increase.

Umadevi M. and Chandrashekar Meti were among those who addressed the gathering. Several party workers participated.