BJP MLA flouts lockdown rules, throws mega birthday bash

Bengaluru: The gatherings and celebrations have been canceled across the country as people follow the guidance to stop the spread of coronavirus but some have been celebrating their special day in a grand manner despite the lockdown. In one such case, a BJP MLA from Turuvekere celebrated his birthday on Friday, April 10 in a grand style with hundreds of villagers, including children, in attendance.

MLA Masale Jayaram, hosted his 51st birthday party amid lockdown in a house compound at Ankalakuppe village in Gubbi taluk where hundreds of his supporters also gathered to felicitate him, the videos of the party is now doing rounds on the social media platform.

Jayaram won from the Turuvakare segment in the same district in the May 2018 Assembly elections.

“As Jayaram’s birthday coincided with the Hanuman Jayanthi function in the area, food was served to the people who gathered at the Anjaneya Swamy temple in the adjacent Manikuppe village,” Gubbi police inspector P.M. Nagaraj was quoted speaking to IANS.

Denying that the legislator violated the lockdown, Nagaraj said the birthday function was held in a compound at Ankalakuppe whereas free food was served in the temple vicinity at Manikuppa, which is an adjacent village.

“Social distancing was, however, not observed, when food (lemon rice) was served, as the village folk scrambled to grab the food packets,” admitted Nagaraj.

Karnataka has so far seen over 200 coronavirus cases with at least six deaths, including one in Tumkuru. A panel of experts has recommended extension of the lockdown for another two weeks.