Mr Amul quits, utterly, bitterly, alone

After 33 yrs, facing no-confidence vote, Kurien quits Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Limited.

Entering the Institute of Rural Management IRMA, Anand, auditorium through the exit gate, Verghese Kurien announced his resignation from the chairmanship of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Limited GCMMF on Monday, a post he held for 33 years.

The Grand Old Man of the Indian Milk Revolution, however, refused to give up his 8216;8216;fight for the farmers8217; cause8217;8217;, but told the IRMA faculty and students that he was pained over the latest ouster bid. The GCMMF will hold a board meeting on March 24 to discuss the resignation.

The resignation is the latest chapter in Kurien8217;s run-in with former protege Amrita Patel, chairperson of the National Dairy Development Board NDDB. But yet another protege seems to have abandoned him8212;Kurien was critical of GCMMF managing director B M Vyas8217; reported move to join Reliance.

The resignation came after 11 of the 12 dairy co-operatives in the GCMMF board proposed to move a no-confidence motion against Kurien. While there was no official reaction from the GCMMF, a feeling that the differences are taking a toll on the co-operatives8217; functioning remained palpable.

While he had himself stepped down from the NDDB, his chairmanship in another institution he formed and headed8212;IRMA8212;remains under a cloud.

Reiterating that the fight was not personal at all, either with the present NDDB or with the GCMMF board, Kurien alleged that the milk federation had 8216;8216;become a pawn in a gameplan initiated by vested interests out to capture the co-operative body.8217;8217; But he seemed to put in faith in the farmers, particularly those of Amul and Gujarat, and called upon them to come forward and take control of the co-operatives.

He invoked central Gujarat greats like Sardar Patel, Tribhovandas Patel, Mansinh Chaudhary and contemporaries to explain what had gone into the making of the co-operatives, that, he alleged, were now facing moves to destablise them.

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His resignation speech was peppered by old allegations and arguments, be it it the functioning of the present NDDB or the Netherland Bank8217;s advisory role to NDDB. Not tempted by Pakistan8217;s standing offer to head its co-operative movement, and ever ready to provide consultancy for the co-operative cause, he reiterated his faith in the farmers8217; power and co-operatives.

Unfazed by the prospect of Reliance8217;s entry in the sector, he was equally dismissive of who the next GCMMF chairman will be. However, when asked if he would leave IRMA, the reply was trademark Kurien: 8216;8216;At my age, the answer could not be a No. You will hear from me on this before long.8217;8217;