Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday said the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) has agreed to reduce the price of Nandini curd by Rs 2 per litre following his suggestion, even as he defended the recent hike in milk prices, saying the revision would benefit 11 lakh farmer families across the state.Shivakumar said he had made the suggestion to KMF office-bearers when a delegation from the federation met him to felicitate him."I have suggested to them (KMF office-bearers) to reduce the curd prices. They have agreed to reduce it by Rs 2 per litre," he said.The decision to hike Nandini curd prices by up to Rs 14 per kg from November 1 had drawn flak from the opposition BJP as well as the Bangalore Hotels Association.

They had termed the increase excessive and said it would place an additional burden on consumers and businesses. The revised prices, announced by KMF last week, increased the price of a 500-gram curd pouch from Rs 28 to Rs 34 and a one-kg pouch from Rs 54 to Rs 68.Responding to questions about the difference in prices among various categories of milk, the Chief Minister said milk with higher fat content was priced higher.

The Karnataka Cabinet, last week, decided to increase the price of Nandini milk by Rs 8 per litre. Of this, Rs 7 would go to farmers and Re 1 to the Karnataka Milk Federation.

The revised prices came into effect on November 1.The price revision has triggered protests across the state, with the BJP women's wing staging a demonstration at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Monday, demanding that the Congress government roll back the hike. Similar protests were reported from other parts of Karnataka.Defending the government's decision, Shivakumar acknowledged public resentment over the increase but questioned the criticism, pointing to the absence of similar reactions when bottled water prices went up."There is definitely anger among people.

Nobody speaks when the price of bottled water increases because the GST goes to the Centre. The increase in milk prices will help lakhs of farmer families," he said.The Chief Minister also said there had been demands for a Rs 12-per-litre increase in milk prices.

He claimed that the higher prices had helped prevent milk from being diverted to other states, where it fetched better rates.- Ends