Mumbai, Nov 5 (PTI) Maharashtra minister Hasan Mushrif on Thursday defended the state government’s intervention in Gokul Dairy’s leadership deadlock, claiming the move was necessary to restore democratic functioning and hand over the administration to elected representatives.
The Kolhapur District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union, popularly known as Gokul Dairy, has come under the spotlight following a government decision that is likely to allow a panel to control the dairy despite having one fewer member than a Congress-backed panel.
“If democracy is to be preserved and the administration handed over to the 25 elected members, this deadlock had to be resolved. Only the government could resolve it,” Mushrif said, responding to criticism over the government’s decision.
Taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi’s tweet on the issue, Mushrif said the Congress leader had not understood the matter.
In the recent election to Gokul Dairy, the Congress-backed panel won 13 seats, while the one supported by the Mahayuti coalition, comprising the BJP, NCP and Shiv Sena, secured 12.
However, the chairman’s election could not be held as the required quorum was not met after the Mahayuti-backed panel members remained absent from a meeting, said Mushrif.
Meanwhile, the state government on Wednesday approved the appointment of five government-nominated members to the managing committees of cooperative institutions with annual turnover of more than Rs 500 crore. This will likely tilt the balance at Gokul Dairy in favour of the Mahayuti-backed panel.
Congress leader Satej Patil, who led the panel that won 13 seats, has alleged that the move was a ploy to seize control of Gokul Dairy. Gokul collects around 20 lakh litres of milk daily from nearly 5.5 lakh farmers and pays them about Rs 100 crore every 10 days, according to Patil.
According to Mushrif, the law mandated a quorum, and the chairman of Gokul Dairy could not be elected without fulfilling the requirement. In the case of Gokul Dairy, the quorum is 14 of the 25 board members, Mushrif said.
He said that repeated failure to conduct the chairman’s election could lead to the appointment of an administrator, followed by fresh elections under the applicable rules.
“This deadlock has arisen in Gokul. Such a situation has not arisen in any other cooperative institution,” he said.
The minister rejected allegations of misuse of power, saying the government had not prevented the elected majority from attending meetings and electing its chairman.
“If they have the majority, they should attend the meeting, complete the quorum and elect their chairman. Where have we stopped them?” he asked.
Mushrif said the Mahayuti-backed panel has been given the mandate of opposition and it cannot be expected to attend the meeting to appoint “their” chairman.
The minister also rejected claims that his son would be made an “expert director” after the tweak in law.
“My son or anyone else will not be appointed as an expert director. The government will appoint only people who are experts and have no political affiliations,” he said.
The government intervention was aimed at protecting the interests of over 5 lakh milk producers associated with the dairy, he said.
Replying to a question concerning sugarcane farmers’ agitation over prices, Mushrif said sugar factories were legally required to pay the Fair and Remunerative Price within 14 days, failing which the amount could be recovered with interest.
He said district collectors could seize sugar stocks of factories that fail to make the payments.
Mushrif appealed to farmer leader Raju Shetti to suspend his agitation during Diwali, citing inconvenience to people travelling on highways during the festive period.
He said the government was ready to discuss farmers’ issues with Shetti.
Farmers are demanding a higher cane support price and an increase in the minimum selling price of sugar and ethanol. PTI MR NR
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