Amul row: Mehsana Union hits back at GCMMF MD

Majority of GCMMF board members engaged in bitter tussle with federation's incumbent chairman Vipul Chaudhary

A fierce war of words has broken out between Mehsana District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union, better known as Dudhsagar Dairy and Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which owns and markets Amul brand. A strong worded letter written by Mehsana Union vice-chairman Jalaben Desai and published in its (Dudhsagar Dairy) mouthpiece Dudhsagar Parika's Diwali edition has publicly criticised GCMMF managing director RS Sodhi by accusing him of following the practice of 'Divide and Rule'.

It may be mentioned here that majority of GCMMF board members are engaged in a bitter tussle with the federation's incumbent chairman Vipul Chaudhary, who also heads Mehsana Union. GCMMF board members had planned to move a no-confidence motion against Vipul Chaudhary for alleged financial mismanagement and called for a requisition meeting on October 26.

However, Chaudhary approached Gujarat High Court, which stayed the meeting and posted the matter for further hearing on November 11.

The Mehsana Union's recent attack on GCMMF comes after Sodhi in a letter dated October 21 took on Mehsana Union alleging the union of indulging into financial mismanagement.

Among other things, Mehsana Union drew the flak from the federation for the big loans (Rs 1357.46 crore) availed by the union and subsequent interest burden, offering cattlefeed worth Rs 22.50 crore to Maharashtra farmers free of cost without taking the approval of union's board.

Hitting back at GCMMF managing director, Mehsana Union vice-chairman in her letter alleged that GCMMF MD's thinking is that of a multi-national company's managing director and didn't reflect the concerns or interests of the milk producers or of the cooperative activity of milk.

It also accused Sodhi of practicing British colonial policy of 'divide and rule'.

"It clearly appears from your attitude that even after so many years since the British are gone they have kept here the officials who practice their policy of 'divide and rule'. Your letter creates the impression that just like the MD of an MNC, you too are thinking only about the 'company'. Your letter does not convey any concern or thinking about the interests of the milk producers or of about the co-operative activity of milk," Desai wrote in the letter.

Taking a serious objection about Sodhi's letter, Desai further alleged him of being vindictive with the union.

"We have heard that your appointment (to the current post) was made through a circulating resolution and the Dudhsagar Dairy was not a party to your appointment. So, are (you) taking a revenge on the Dudhsagar Dairy for the same?" the letter stated.