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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, SEPT 3: The popular Dhara edible oil brand is likely to lose its trade permit in Delhi. The brand has already been banned by the Delhi Government.
With the adulterated packs of Dhara refined oil still untraceable, there is little chance of the National Dairy Development Corporation (NDDB) (the manufacturers of Dhara brand) procuring a fresh permit to sell their brands here.
The Delhi Government is worried about the fact that once the ban is lifted and fresh tenders invited, the adulterated packs of Dhara can resurface.
Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma, in a press conference today, said: “The National Dairy Development Board, which manufactures Dhara, should issue a public apology. It should be on the line of the apology tendered by Union Carbide after the Bhopal gas tragedy.”
The NDDB which started an in-house investigation last week, only acknowledged the adulteration of its brand yesterday. But they are yet to delve into the issue of the untraceable stock. A comment from the NDDB on thetemporary cancellation of their edible oil trade permit in Delhi was not forthcoming.
The issue of Dhara being picked upon and its popular brand being maligned was also taken up in a seminar organised by the FICCI’s Food Research and Analysis wing.
Even the consumer activist groups which presented papers at the seminar said the entire issue of adulteration of the Dhara refined oil, was intentional. “It has been done to eliminate Dhara, a very popular and reasonably priced brand, from the market. The other brands were finding it difficult to compete with Dhara’s popularity,” they said, adding one more to the numerous conspiracy theories thick in the air.
