Prices not hiked as additional cost is for more quantity of milk: K'taka CM

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday defended the Rs two hike in 'Nandini' milk prices with additional 50 ml of milk in half-litre and one litre packets, stating that it has been done keeping in mind the interest of farmers in view of rising procurement. He reiterated that milk prices have not been increased. "Last year during the same time milk (production) was 90 lakh litres (per day), now it is more than 99 lakh litre. We have to procure milk from farmers, we cannot say no to them, the milk is produced and it has to be marketed. So we have enhanced the half litre milk packet quantity by 50 ml," Siddaramaiah told reporters here. "The quantity has been enhanced and, proportionate to the increased quantity, the price has been hiked. The cost of 50 ml that has been enhanced in half and one litre packet is Rs 2.10, and we have increased Rs 2, where have we hiked the milk price?" he said. "Can we throw away (more) milk that has been produced? Can we say to farmers we will