‘Imposition of Hindi’: In Karnataka, protests over FSSAI’s ‘label curd as Dahi’ order

The order signed by FSSAI Joint Director (Science and Standards) Mahavadiya Rajendra on March 10 has gone viral on social media, inviting strong objections from netizens and political parties like the JD(S). The order also applies to the milk federations of Tamil Nadu such as Hatsun Agro Products and Tamil Nadu Co-operative Milk Producers Federation Limited.

A copy of the order, which is available with The Indian Express, states that “Dahi can also be labelled as per following examples – ‘Dahi (Curd)’ OR ‘Dahi (Mosaru)’ OR ‘Dahi (Zaamut daud)’ OR ‘Dahi (Tayir)’ OR ‘Dahi (Perugu)’ OR ‘Dahi (Tair)’ etc, based on the regional nomenclature used in different states for Dahi.”

The FSSAI order comes in the wake of the milk federations of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka requesting the authority to use local nomenclatures on curd packets. The labelling comes in the sub-regulation relating to ‘standard of fermented milk products’. Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government has also declined to use the word ‘Dahi’ in Aavin curd packets.

ನಂದಿನಿ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ಆಸ್ತಿ, ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ಅಸ್ಮಿತೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ಜೀವನಾಡಿ. ಇದು ಗೊತ್ತಿದ್ದರೂ ಹಿಂದಿ ಹೇರಿಕೆಯ ಅಹಂ ತೋರಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಈ ಹಿಂದೆ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಗೃಹ ಸಚಿವ ಶ್ರೀ @AmitShah ಅವರು ಮಂಡ್ಯದ ಸಭೆಯೊಂದರಲ್ಲಿ, ಗುಜರಾತಿನ ಅಮುಲ್ ಜತೆ ನಂದಿನಿಯನ್ನು ವಿಲೀನ ಮಾಡುವುದಾಗಿ ಹೇಳಿದ್ದರು. ಹಿಂದಿ ಪದ ಮುದ್ರಣ ನಂದಿನಿ ಹೈಜಾಕಿನ ಅರಂಭವಾ?2/9 pic.twitter.com/nr75xryBnV

— ಹೆಚ್.ಡಿ.ಕುಮಾರಸ್ವಾಮಿ | H.D.Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) March 30, 2023

“If we are exporting our curd to states like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states, we are ready to print the local nomenclature for the product. If we are selling it in Karnataka, why should we print the word ‘Dahi’ on it? On April 1, the board of directors are having a meeting and we will bring up the matter. We strictly oppose the Hindi culture that the central government is gradually and cunningly imposing upon us,” Kumar said.

JD (S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, in a series of tweets on Thursday, hit out at FSSAI “for imposing Hindi” on KMF products. He also posted a picture of Nandini’s Probiotic Curd packet which has the word ‘Dahi’ printed on it. “Knowing that Kannadigas are opposed to the imposition of Hindi, it is wrong for the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to order KMF to print Hindi ‘Dahi’ on the packet of Nandini Probiotic Curd,” he said.

ಹಿಂದಿ ಹೇರಿಕೆಗೆ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ವಿರೋಧವಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಗೊತ್ತಿದ್ದರೂ ನಂದಿನಿ ಪ್ರೋ ಬಯೊಟಿಕ್ ಮೊಸರು ಪಾಕೆಟ್ ಮೇಲೆ ಹಿಂದಿಯ ‘ದಹಿ’ ಎಂದು ಮುದ್ರಿಸಿರುವುದು,ಅದನ್ನು ಕಡ್ಡಾಯವಾಗಿ ಮುದ್ರಿಸುವಂತೆ ಭಾರತೀಯ ಆಹಾರ ಸುರಕ್ಷತೆ, ಗುಣಮಟ್ಟ ಪ್ರಾಧಿಕಾರವು ಕೆಎಂಎಫ್ ಗೆ ಆದೇಶ ನೀಡಿರುವುದು ತಪ್ಪು.ಇದನ್ನು ಒಪ್ಪಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ.1/9#StopHindiImposition pic.twitter.com/fgAAeZURPQ

— ಹೆಚ್.ಡಿ.ಕುಮಾರಸ್ವಾಮಿ | H.D.Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) March 30, 2023

Referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement in Mandya wherein he had announced the merger of Amul and Nandini, Kumaraswamy questioned if using Hindi was the first step “in hijacking Nandini”.

“Nandini is the property of the Kannadigas, the identity of the Kannadigas and the lifeline of the Kannadigas. Despite knowing Hindi is being imposed with their egos. Earlier Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said in a meeting in Mandya that Nandini would be merged with Gujarat’s Amul. Is using Hindi the first step in hijacking Nandini,” said Kumaraswamy, adding that the BJP government in Karnataka has secretly been accepting the Hindi imposition.