What is ‘Nandini vs Amul’ debate and how it created political discourse in poll-bound Karnataka?

New Delhi: Diary giant Amul tweeted about entering the market in Bengaluru a few days ago, which led to a political discourse and a debate of ‘Nandini vs Amul’. In the poll-bound Karnataka, a Gujarat-based dairy firm entering the market gave a chance to the opposition to target the BJP government in the state and Twitter has been flooded with remarks on the discourse since then.

There were speculations of a merger between the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which owns the Nandini brand, and Amul. Congress and JD(S) leaders called out BJP for alleged ‘conspiracy’ and #SaveNandini was also trending on social media.

How did the debate begin?

Anand Milk Union Limited (Amul), shared a tweet hinting at the launch of their milk and curd in Karnataka. This led to a debate, where one side said that Amul will capture the market and will affect the local brands, while the other side hailed the free market.

A new wave of freshness with milk and curd is coming
to Bengaluru. More information coming soon. #LaunchAlert pic.twitter.com/q2SCGsmsFP

— Amul.coop (@Amul_Coop) April 5, 2023

Political discourse on Nandini vs Amul

Congress has been targeting the BJP government in the state and has alleged a conspiracy to sell Nandini to Amul. Congress leader Randeep Surjewala alleged that BJP is trying to sell Nandini to Amul and Amit Shah first made an open statement about it and then Shobha Karandlaje supported it.

ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ “ನಂದಿನಿ” ಅನ್ನು ಗುಜರಾತ್‌ನ ಅಮುಲ್‌ಗೆ ಮಾರಾಟ ಮಾಡುವ ಬಿಜೆಪಿಯ ಷಡ್ಯಂತ್ರ ಈಗ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿದೆ.

ಅಮಿತ್ ಶಾ ಅವರು ಮೊದಲಿಗೆ ಬಹಿರಂಗವಾಗಿ ಹೇಳಿಕೆ ನೀಡಿದರು. ಇದೀಗ ಶೋಭಾ ಕರಂದ್ಲಾಜೆ ಅದನ್ನು ಬೆಂಬಲಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ನಂದಿನಿ ಇಳಿಕೆ, ಅಮುಲ್ ಗಳಿಕೆ, @BSBommai ಸರ್ಕಾರ ‘ಮೂಕ’ ಬಸವ!

ನಂದಿನಿ ಉಳಿಸಿ, ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಓಡಿಸಿ! pic.twitter.com/CePD8740Su

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) April 8, 2023

Congress’ state chief DK Shivakumar has been one of the leaders strongly opposing Amul entering the Karnataka market. Former CM Siddaramaiah asked all Kannadigas to pledge not to buy Amul products and unanimously resist the usurpation of the KMF. He added that after ‘language treason’ by the Hindi imposition and ‘land treason’, hinting at the Karnataka-Maharashtra border issue, now the BJP is betraying the farmers by shutting down KMF.

ಮೊದಲು KMF- ಅಮುಲ್‌ ವಿಲೀನಕ್ಕೆ ಯತ್ನಿಸಿದರು, ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರು ವಿರೋಧಿಸಿದಾಗ ಭ್ರಷ್ಟ BJP ನಂದಿನಿ ಬ್ರಾಂಡ್ ಗೆ ಕೊನೇ ಮೊಳೆ ಹೊಡೆಯಲು ಪ್ಲಾನ್-ಬಿ ಸಿದ್ಧಪಡಿಸಿದೆ. ನಂದಿನಿಯು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಅನರ್ಘ್ಯ ರತ್ನ, ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರು ಹಲವು ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಪರಿಶ್ರಮ, ಸಮರ್ಪಣೆಯಿಂದ ಅದನ್ನು ಕಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ನಂದಿನಿ ಬ್ರಾಂಡ್ಅನ್ನು ಯಾರೂ ಹೈಜಾಕ್ ಮಾಡಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ. pic.twitter.com/ctRl4NAfDH

— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) April 7, 2023

ರಾಜ್ಯದೆಲ್ಲೆಡೆ ಕೆಎಂಎಫ್ ನಂದಿನಿಯ ಹಾಲು, ತುಪ್ಪ, ಬೆಣ್ಣೆ ಸಮರ್ಪಕವಾಗಿ ಸಿಗದೇ ಇರುವ ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಗುಜರಾತ್ ನ ಅಮುಲ್ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯು ಆನ್ ಲೈನ್ ಮಾರುಕಟ್ಟೆಗೆ ಮುಂದಾಗಿರುವ ಈ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆ ಏನನ್ನು ಸೂಚಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ? ನಂದಿನಿ ಹಾಲು ನಂಬಿ ಬದುಕುತ್ತಿರುವ ಅಸಂಖ್ಯ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ಕೆಲಸದ ಮೇಲೆ ಇದು ಕರಿನೆರಳಿನಂತೆ ಭಾಸವಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲವೆ? 1/2 pic.twitter.com/uopFBCJx1d

— Janata Dal Secular (@JanataDal_S) April 7, 2023

CM Basavaraj Bommai said there should be no politics over Amul, and added that Nandini will become the number one brand in the country and its products are sold in other states as well. Meanwhile, CT Ravi targeted Congress and wrote that ‘slaves’ have no problem in being ‘ruled by Italian’ but have an issue for Amul.

Slaves have no problem in being ruled by an Italian.

But they have a problem when Bharatiya brand Amul sells its products in Karnataka just like many other brands.

What a bunch of LOSERS !

— C T Ravi ?? ಸಿ ಟಿ ರವಿ (@CTRavi_BJP) April 8, 2023

This also led to a divide between people as the public came in support or both Nandini and Amul on the internet.