Palakkad | Milma chairman K S Mani on Saturday alleged that the state government's decision to dissolve the Malabar Regional Co-operative Milk Producers' Union was politically motivated and said the union would challenge the order in court.
However, Animal Husbandry Minister Bindhu Krishna denied any political motive behind the move.
The Dairy Development director issued an order dissolving the MRCMPU, a regional union under the Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (Milma), on Friday, following which the deputy director of Dairy Development in Wayanad assumed charge as its administrator.
Mani said the government had cited four major reasons for the action but alleged that the mandatory procedures under Section 32 of the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act had not been followed.
"Natural justice is a right guaranteed by our Constitution. Before taking any action against anyone, their objections have to be sought. That procedure was not followed in this case," he said.
He said the union had cooperated with inquiries ordered by the authorities and denied allegations of corruption.
"As chairman of Milma and the Malabar Regional Union, I have publicly said several times that if anyone proves that I or the governing body committed corruption even to the tune of one rupee, I will resign the next day," Mani said.
On allegations concerning the Malabar Rural Development Foundation, Mani said it was an independent cooperative institution that had been functioning for nearly 25 years and that its accounts were audited every year by a chartered accountant.
He alleged that the government had acted hastily ahead of the general body meeting scheduled for September 23, at which the audited report was to be placed before the members.
Regarding the alleged theft of ghee worth around Rs 85 lakh from the Malappuram Dairy, Mani said the irregularity was detected during a stock verification by Milma officials and that a police case was subsequently registered.
"We recovered the entire amount from him, and therefore there was no loss to the union," he said.
Mani alleged that the dissolution was part of a political effort to take control of Milma's three regional unions and the federation.
The Ernakulam regional union currently has a UDF-led panel, while the Thiruvananthapuram union, which was led by an LDF panel, was dissolved by the government in July.
The dissolution of the Thiruvananthapuram union is being challenged before a division bench of the Kerala High Court.
Mani alleged that after attempts to gain control of the federation through an election failed, the government was now trying to take control through the dissolution of the Malabar union.
He said the union would legally challenge the government's decision and prove its stand before the court.
Animal Husbandry Minister Bindhu Krishna said the MRCMPU was dissolved due to numerous irregularities and mounting complaints.
"Numerous irregularities were found, such as graft involving lakhs of rupees in milk procurement, the purchase of low-quality milk and malpractices related to various programmes. Based on these prima facie findings, the decision to dissolve it was taken. A detailed departmental inquiry will follow," she said.
She denied any political motive behind the move.
"Shielding corruption under the pretext of 'political motivation' will not work in Keralam. Nothing is being done for political reasons, nor is politics relevant here. The sole objective of the Dairy Development Department is the survival and smooth functioning of Milma," she said.
Krishna said an inquiry would be held at the department level.
"The department has its own procedures, and things will move forward in accordance with those legal procedures," she added.
