![\"Karnataka's](\"https:\/\/c.ndtvimg.com\/2023-04\/rtgao9m8_shivakumar_625x300_10_April_23.jpg\"\/ "\\"Karnataka's")
<\/div>\nThe ‘Nandini’ dairy brand was caught in a political storm earlier this month (File)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Bengaluru: <\/b><\/p>\n
The Congress has joined the BJP in an attempt to use Karnataka’s ‘Nandini’ dairy brand to relate with the state’s identity in next week’s polls, furthering a political storm that erupted earlier this month.<\/p>\n
“We will not allow anyone to destroy the existence of our pride Nandini,” said the Congress manifesto for the May 10 elections.<\/p>\n
The ‘Sarva Janangada Shanthiya Thota<\/em>‘ (peaceful garden of all communities) manifesto was released today by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, a day after BJP chief JP Nadda released his party’s ‘Praja Pranalike’.<\/p>\n The BJP has promised to provide free milk of the ‘Nandini’ brand to households in the below poverty line (BPL) category if it retains power in Karnataka.<\/p>\n On the other hand, Congress has promised to boost milk production to 1.5 crore litres per day. For dairy farmers, it announced zero interest loans up to Rs 3 lakh to dairy farmers to buy cows and buffaloes, and credit cards with Rs 50,000 limit.<\/p>\n It also said it will increase the milk subsidy to dairy farmers from Rs 5 to Rs 7 per litre and establish a Nandini Dairy Technology polytechnics in each division.<\/p>\n The ‘Nandini’ dairy brand was caught in a political storm earlier this month after Amul announced its plans to enter the Karnataka markets.<\/p>\n The Opposition Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) had alleged that Nandini, which is Karnataka’s own formidable dairy brand, would come under threat due to the Gujarat-based dairy giant’s foray in local markets.<\/p>\n The allegations assumed significance in view of the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka, with the BJP accusing the opposition of politicizing the matter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n