Nandini's global pitch: Mohandas Pai slams Karnataka govt; internet reacts

Nandini will also open two more parlours in UAE - Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

Hours after Moneycontrol's report that the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which markets its dairy products under the Nandini brand, would sponsor the Scotland and Ireland teams for the T20 Cricket World Cup, a heated war of words erupted on social media.

"While former Infosys CFO TV Mohandas Pai questioned the Karnataka government's decision, pro-Kannada activists, Congress supporters, and others argue that if Gujarat-based Amul can sponsor cricket teams, Nandini can also do the same.

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This development precedes the elections for 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, scheduled in two phases: South Karnataka voting on April 26 and North Karnataka on May 7.

What a big shame!Why are they using the money belonging to the farmers of Karnataka, paid by consumers who are kannadigas,to sponsor foreign teams?what value will it deliver? Pay poor farmers better. @siddaramaiah @DKShivakumar this is a waste for a largely Karnataka based… https://t.co/2w2g0IAGje

— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) April 20, 2024

It may be recalled that ahead of the 2023 Karnataka polls, political parties in the state were at loggerheads over dairy products. This was sparked by Amul's decision to enter the Bengaluru market, which the Congress alleged would affect Karnataka's dairy cooperative and hundreds of thousands of dairy farmers in the state.

Why not sponsor the Karnataka Ranji team , Karnataka sports persons, Karnataka artists? Farmers children, scholarship for poor? Kmf is funded by Kannadiga tax papers money, subsidy and investments from budget but chooses to spend on foreign teams whom nobody knows! @siddaramaiah… https://t.co/i8DFYl3Pcl

— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) April 21, 2024

If Amul spends on Afghanistan team its brilliant.If KMF takes brand Nandini to the T20 WC it is bad economics

It'd be nice to see Scotland and Ireland have Nandini marketed on their kits.

In any event participated by men's cricket team from India we're sure to gather eyeballs https://t.co/bbNiD65B7L pic.twitter.com/hHSVgSH0Hm Story continues below Advertisement Remove Ad

— ಅಭಿಷೇಕ್ | Abhishek (ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರೆಲ್ಲಾ ಒಂದು ಪರಿವಾರ) (@abhispake) April 21, 2024

As per what I have heard per litre payment from Nandini to farmers has reduced, stopped bonus payments. On flipside selling price of products have also increased in past 6-10 months. In such crisis sponsoring to cricket teams shouldn't have been first priority.#Nandini https://t.co/vNHZBZ8HHp

— Masala Dose - ಮಸಾಲೆ ದೋಸೆ (@DosaSpeaks) April 21, 2024

Amul ಅಂದ್ರೆ energy

Nandini ಅಂದ್ರೆ allergy!!! pic.twitter.com/i8Fk2qwn8c

— ನಗಲಾರದೆ

BJP govt in Karnataka tried to kill ‘Nandini’ in order to promote Gujarati ‘Amul’. Congress made this an election issue and raised awareness, Kannadiga people responded to it and defeated the BJP. Now, in just 1 year, Congress govt has made ‘Nandini’ so strong that it is going… pic.twitter.com/aDZux2hAjU

— Shantanu (@shaandelhite) April 21, 2024

KMF managing director MK Jagadish told Moneycontrol, "We've issued the work order on April 20 to ITW Consulting Private Limited to sponsor two teams - Scotland and Ireland. The Nandini logo will come on the lead arm jersey (i.e., right arm for left-handed batsmen and left arm for right-handed batters). The two teams will be involved in our advertisements, social media campaigns, photo shoots, and endorsing our products, which we will air during the tournament. This will be a proud moment for everyone in Karnataka".

T20 Cricket World Cup 2024 is scheduled to be co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States from June 1-29. There are a record 20 teams in this year's edition of the Twenty20 cricket championship. The KMF MD said they are also planning to launch Nandini Splash, a whey-based energy drink in the US during the tournament.