Sri Ram Sene members, led by its founder-president Pramod Mutalik, took out a protest rally in Belagavi on Wednesday, against the Union government’s decision to close down all dairy farms run by the Defence forces across the country.
They said that closing in-house farms and giving soldiers milk bought from outside would be detrimental to their health, pose a threat to national security and lead to corrupt practices.
They shouted slogans against Defence Minister Arun Jaitely for ordering the phasing out of 39 farms with over 25,000 cows in three months. They wanted to know the reason behind this decision and to see if other options could be explored.
They said that the military farm in Belagavi that is spread over nearly 130 acres had over 650 cows that produced over 3,000 litres of milk per day. Milk from the farm ensured that the soldiers being trained at the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre remained fit.
The farm had a grassland that produced 1,200 tonnes of grass that was sent to centres in Bengaluru, Chennai, Tripura and other cities. These two units employed over 800 full-time and part-time labour who come from the villages surrounding Belagavi. They would all be rendered jobless if the farm were to be closed.
If this is the case with Belagavi, what would happen to labour in military farms across the country? they questioned.
It is possible that milk bought from outside could contain harmful chemicals, and affect the health of soldiers. When the NDA government has corruption-free India as its motto, why leave corruption to chance by closing on-site farms and buying milk from outside? they wondered.
They warned of a country-wide struggle if the Union government did not withdraw its order to close the military farms.
Mr. Mutalik met Deputy Commissioner S. Jiaullah and submitted a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister, through the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
