Amid ongoing protests and brewing resentment among milk-producing farmers, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that the Narendra Modi-led NDA government had no plans to import milk powder in the next five years.

Accusing the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the state of spreading misinformation that the Centre was planning to  import milk powder, Shah said: “In the last ten years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, not even one kg of milk powder was imported. In the next five years, we have no plans  to import even one gram of milk powder”

Distancing himself from the decisions taken by the previous Congress-led UPA government in matters relating to the milk powder import, Shah said:  “(After learning about misinformation being spread by the Opposition MVA), even I also got confused and called up (Union Commerce and Industry Minister) Piyush Goyal…he  told me that this was not NDA government’s decision but that of Sharad Pawar.

Don't be confused. The milk powder import circular issued by the previous Manmohan Singh government”.

Shah made these remarks when he spoke at the ruling BJP office bearers’ meeting called in Pune to make preparations for the Maharashtra Assembly.  He was referring to the comment made by the Opposition leaders at  farmers' convention held at Akole in Ahmednagar district of western Maharashtra last week.

The farmers' convention had been organised in the context of the intense milk farmers' struggle in the state, demanding a price of Rs 40 per litre for cow milk, along with other demands.