Karnataka raises milk prices by Rs 8 per litre from November 1

Jayachandra, Karnataka's special representative in Delhi, spoke to ANI in Hiriyur, in Chitradurga district. He described farmers as facing severe hardship during the drought and said government assistance was needed to help them continue producing milk. He linked his support for the price decision to the difficulties of maintaining cattle when fodder and feed were unavailable.

He stressed that milk production depended on animals and the farmers caring for them. Describing farmers as being in “deep distress”, he said the drought had left them struggling to obtain food for their livestock. In his account, those conditions required the government to support dairy farming and the livelihoods associated with it.

Jayachandra acknowledged that consumers would face higher costs. He said the government had to consider their interests while also protecting farmers, their incomes and their animals. He questioned who would supply milk if farmers left the occupation, and presented the cabinet's decision as a measure taken in farmers' interests. He also noted that milk prices had been increased on several previous occasions, saying the present circumstances required another revision.

Separately, Jayachandra criticised Gyanesh Kumar's continued tenure as India's chief election commissioner. He said there was considerable anger in Delhi over Kumar remaining in office and that he had taken part in a protest. He called for respect for public opinion and the majority's wishes, adding that people holding positions of responsibility should respond to the situation.

The INDIA bloc and other opposition parties have held protests in New Delhi and elsewhere in India calling for Kumar to resign. Jayachandra's comments addressed those demonstrations alongside the state government's milk-pricing decision.

Asked about a Delhi meeting between former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Jayachandra said he had also been in the capital and that the participants had discussed several subjects. He declined to comment on an alleged sting operation connected with the matter, saying the issue was still emerging and that fuller details should first become available.

Jayachandra said investigative agencies were examining the alleged operation and that he expected their findings within a few days. He said he did not want to comment at that stage and wanted the origin of the operation to be established before considering the matter further.