Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi (SP)

Belagavi, Mar 16: Karnataka chief minister (CM) B S Yediyurappa had passed an order banning extravagant ceremonies including weddings and other functions for a week because of the fear let loose by the spread of coronavirus. But on Sunday, March 15, he participated in the wedding ceremony of legislative council chief whip, Mahantesh Kavatagimath in transgression of the government order issued by him.

Yediyurappa had, through the order, halted all public functions and ceremonies but he did not stick to his own order when taking part in the marriage ceremony as above. Union minister Suresh Angadi, ministers Basavaraj Bommai and Shrimant Patil as well as MP Shobha Karandlaje and several legislators were witnesses to the government order getting violated with impunity.

The government had said that programmes with the participation of large number of people should be stopped and no meetings and functions should be allowed. Thousands of people came from various places to take part in the said marriage since Sunday morning. Even people's representatives paid no heed to the prevalence of a ban order. The officials, who were expected to see that the number of people participating in such functions is minimal, participated in the marriage, and thus violated the government order.

Banners advising people about the precautions to be taken to contain spread of coronavirus infection were hung at two places in the venue of the ceremony. Arrangements were made for every visitor to clean their hands with sanitizer on arrival. As only a few masks were available, very few people used them.

Even though coronavirus check was in place at the Sambra airport here for passengers on arrival, chief minister Yediyurappa did not offer himself to be checked. Later, deputy chief ministers Govind Karjol and Laxman Savadi apart from minister C T Ravi, were subjected to these checks.

Shobha gets angry

At the time of chief minister, B S Yediyurappa's departure at the airport, MP Shobha Karandlaje angrily questioned Yediyurappa for accompanying her to the marriage but leaving her behind on his return journey. She was incensed at not getting space in the special aircraft to Hubballi after participating in the said marriage function.