Pune-based dairy Sonai sends defamation notice to 4 farm leaders, seeks police protection for milk tankers

Indapur Dairy and Milk products Ltd has also sought police protection for its milk tankers from the protesting farmers and sent a legal notice to four farm leaders for having “intentionally” defamed them. The four leaders are Deepak Bhosale and Rahul Bidve of Rayat Kranti Sanghatna, and Sachin Patil and Sachin Atkale of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Dasrath Mane, chairman and executive director of the dairy, said they were “forced to take action given the intentional defamation being carried out by the so-called farm leaders”. “Those who are at the forefront of the protest have nothing to do with the dairy business,” he said.

“We are India’s largest dairy and we procure milk from lakhs of farmers. Milk prices are linked closely to the complex economics of demand and supply. At present, the corrections are because of excess supply and slow demand. It’s not just Sonai but all dairies have taken to price corrections given the lack of liquidity in the markets,” he said.

The protests, Mane said, were directed against Sonai to portray them as a “villain”. “Our farmers have never complained about late payment or dishonest behaviour. The protesters are intentionally targeting us,” he said.

When contacted, Patil said they will continue their protest against the dairy. “We will reply in our own style. In a democracy, the people’s voice cannot be silenced,” he said.