THIS refers to the report ‘Milking the consumer’ (April 7). There has been a regular periodic increase in milk prices per litre, both in Pakistan, as well as in India.

The reasons are the same, and the consumers are milked. The dairy sector is upbeat. The price of one litre of branded cow milk is Rs38 in Mumbai, and that of buffalo milk is Rs48.

As usual, in any price hike of an essential commodity — be it petrol, diesel or milk and milk products — the end-user is squeezed. The saving grace is one does not need milk cards, as was the case earlier when green milk cards were in vogue to buy milk from the wooden stalls set up by the government. ‘Tabela’ (enclosures where cows/buffaloes are reared for milking) milk is more costly.

The general elections were held recently in Pakistan, and it is surprising that no political party there thought of giving one litre of milk free every day to woo voters.

Subsidised power and free water resulted in India’s Aam Aadmi Party winning the assembly elections in Delhi. It is another story that its chief minister resigned after 49 days to fight the Lok Sabha elections.

General elections are under way in India, and it is surprising that not even a single political party has thought of giving free milk -- one litre per person a day -- to attract voters. Will the Aam Aadmi Party or any other party take up the challenge to contain the ever-rising milk prices?

Deendayal M. Lulla
Mumbai