Thiruvananthapuram: In another big setback for the Kerala government, President Droupadi Murmu rejected the Kerala Co-operative Societies Amendment Bill 2022 (MILMA) today (March 5).
The Kerala government has proposed an amendment bill aimed to take control of the Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (KCMMF), recognized by its brand name Milma. The President rejected the bill that was proposed by the Kerala state government to take control of Milma.
The bill was passed in the Kerala Assembly and was forwarded for the Governor’s assent. Earlier, the Governor had withheld the bill, citing that the amendment is against the idea and principles of democracy. However, he forwarded seven bills to the President for consent. The Governor emphasized that granting voting rights to individuals who are not dairy farmers’ representatives is undemocratic and raised concerns about potential manipulation.
The Kerala government’s bill proposed the appointment of an administrator or administrative representative in local milk cooperative societies, granting them voting rights and authority to participate in committee elections. However, this move enabled the CPI(M) to gain power in some districts, including Thiruvananthapuram.
Meanwhile, the BJP and other opposition leaders have accused the Pinarayi government of aiming to exert control over dairy cooperatives, including Milma, by utilizing the state’s administrative machinery through the proposed move.
This is the fourth bill rejected by the President. The three bills previously withheld by the President are:
- Kerala University Laws [Amendment No. 2] (Divesting Governor from the position of Chancellor of Universities) Bill, 2022
- University Law Amendment Bill, 2022 [Expansion of Search Committee for the Appointment of Vice Chancellor]
- The University Law Amendment Bill, 201 [Appellate Tribunal issue and other amendments to Technological University and others].
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