Bengaluru: Commenting on the reports of BJP MLA M Jayaram’s birthday bash with the villagers of Tumakuru’s Gubbi taluk, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D K Shivakumar said that he hopes Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa will take action against him.

It can be recalled that on Friday, MLA Jayaram celebrated his birthday with the villagers of the Gubbi taluk and distributed food for them. People were seen forming crowds during this time, which is a violation of the COVID-19 lockdown rules.

Informing that they have asked the DGP to file a suo moto case against the BJP MLA, the Congress leader and former state minister told ANI, “I am sure that the Chief Minister will take action against all these kinds of activities.

The country has been on lockdown since March 25 in order to contain the spread of COVID-19. Initially, the lockdown was supposed to end on April 14, however, this was extended by the Prime Minister.

As per the rules and guidelines prescribed by the government, people are not supposed to leave their homes unless in cases of emergencies or to buy essentials. People are also prohibited from organising gatherings and programmes of any sort during the lockdown.

MLA Jayaram’s party was a violation of these rules and guidelines, however, Gubbi police inspector P.M. Nagaraj, in a phone conversation with IANS denied that the legislator violated the lockdown. He 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.