SHRC asks MD Khyber for personal appearance

Srinagar, Dec 21(KMW): The state human rights commission, while taking strong note of the recent reports that the Khyber toned milk is allegedly unsafe for consumption, Saturday directed the managing director of Khyber Agro Farms Private Limited to appear in person before the commission on the date of hearing scheduled to be held on December 30.
The reports received by KMW mentioned that the SHRC while taking suo motto cognizance in the matter, issued notices to Commissioner Municipal Corporation, Srinagar, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar and Deputy Commissioner Food Safety Kashmir Division, Srinagar for submitting their factual reports in the matter.
The commission has also directed that the MD of Khyber agro farms must appear in person before the commission with their personal responses in the matter so that their version of facts is also taken on board.
The SHRC notice, a copy of which is with KMW, mentioned that if the newspaper reports are to be believed and allegations proved, then the act amounts to “genocide” and warrants to be dealt with sternly and ironhanded as the product, which has been declared unsafe for consumption, is consumed by one and all including children, women, patients, infants irrespective of their age and health conditions, whose life appears to be, now, at stake.
The notice observed further,”If the allegations are true then this milk, which might have, now, been consumed by a big size of population in Kashmir, will surely cause damage to many lives and deprive their basic rights to safe food and good health. “It added that this act of turpitude and moral degradation is not allowed or seen even in wars where infants, children and women are being protected and given safe passage.
The notice further reads that the alleged adulteration in basic food item like milk will leave nobody safe and un-attacked and, therefore, qualifies the term genocide in strict sense. This act of alleged adulteration also amounts to a direct attack on life and liberty of every soul and their right to live. The Commission cannot maintain silence as a mute spectator to this grave and serious act of human rights violations which the Commission is meant to prevent and protect.
However, the Khyber Saturday in a statement to KMW completely denied the allegations leveled against it and mentioned that till date the company has no knowledge about any test of its milk having been conducted by any competent authority.
“Sale, Packaging and quality of milk are regulated by Laws,” reads the statement, adding that mandatory test, procedures have to be followed before declaring any food item to be substandard or unsafe for consumption.
Khyber has further stated that the company intends to take legal action against all persons, authorities, officials of department and the government who are bent upon tarnishing well earned reputation of the company. It further says that the company is in consultation with legal experts.
While assuring consumers that Khyber Milk is safe, of standard quality and fit for human consumption, the company further stated that it is seeking complete information from food safety department so as to ascertain the genesis of false propaganda against the company and its products.