“During a meeting on March 17, it was decided that the BMU would stop supply of milk to buyers outside the state including Amul. The BMU supplies the best quality milk in the state, and it was decided that its supply would be only for Central (16,000 lpd), Metro (26,000) and Mother (26,000) dairies. Amul was to get 5,000 lpd from the Icchamati Milk Union. However, Sarkar supplied 100,000 lpd to Amul on March 22-24 and ceased supply to the state dairies,” said West Bengal milk commissioner Sundar Majumdar, on Wednesday.

Sarkar said that he had supplied the milk, as Amul was offering a higher rate per litre compared to the state-run dairies. He said, “ Amul is paying Rs 15.55 per litre while the state-run dairies pay Rs 12-13 per litre.” He claimed that the sale would benefit dairy farmers in the district. Majumdar said that action was taken, as Sarkar had not complied with repeated warnings against supplying milk to Amul.

Meanwhile, State minister for animal resource development Anisur Rahman denied any connection of the incident with the upcoming Gram Panchayat elections in Murshidabad and other districts.