DMK, DMDK announce protest against milk price hike

Chennai: Terming as "unprecedented" the Rs 10 per litre hike in milk price announced by the Tamil Nadu government, opposition DMK and DMDK today announced protests against the ruling AIADMK over the issue.

DMK President M Karunanidhi described the hike as "anti-people" and also slammed the proposed revision in power tariff even as he accused the government of not coming out with any relief measures for ryots affected by the downpour lashing the state for the past several days.

DMK will stage protests in all district headquarters on November 3 condemning the ruling AIADMK's "anti-people" policies and demand rollback of hike in milk price, and oppose the proposed power tariff revision, he said in a statement here.

The district secretaries will lead the protests, he added.

DMDK, the main opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly, also criticised the hike in milk price, though party founder Vijayakant insisted he was not against increasing the procurement price for milk farmers.

He said the milk prices have doubled since the AIADMK government assumed office in May 2011 from Rs 17.75 to Rs 34 and sought an immediate rollback of the same.

He said he will lead a protest here on October 28, 2014.

Announcing the hike on Saturday, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam had said that the increase was effected following demands from milk producers to increase the procurement price.

MDMK leader Vaiko also flayed the move and sought for an immediate rollback of the hike.

AISMK, an ally of AIADMK, however, welcomed the government's decision to increase the procurement price but said the hike on the customers should be reduced.