What social distancing? HD Kumaraswamy’s son’s wedding draws scrutiny

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Apr 17, 2020: A mega political wedding took place in Karnataka this morning amid the coronavirus lockdown and photos showed no social distancing, masks or any precaution in the rituals. Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda’s grandson Nikhil Kumaraswamy married Revathi, the grandniece of a former minister, at a farmhouse about 28 km from state capital Bengaluru, NDTV reported.

 

 

The wedding ceremony on Friday involving two political families had no guests, claimed by former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, the groom’s father, but all traditions were followed. Family and relatives were at the farmhouse in Ramanagara of Mr Kumaraswamy, where the bride and groom exchanged garlands. Priests were seen in the backdrop as family members blessed the couple.

Nikhil, an actor-turned-politician, contested the national election last year from his family stronghold Mandya, but lost.

The families had earlier organized a grand wedding in Bengaluru. Despite the lockdown, Mr Kumaraswamy refused to defer the big day. In a video message on Thursday, the Janata Dal Secular leader said the wedding had been moved from Bengaluru, a "red zone" for COVID-19, to Ramanagara, his assembly constituency. He appealed to supporters to stay away from the venue, promising a bigger event when the situation returned to normal.

 

 

 

"It is difficult to maintain social distancing if the event is organised at home. That’s the reason we are organising the event at our farmhouse in Bidadi. I request my workers and well-wishers to avoid attending the event," Mr Kumaraswamy said, adding that the decision to go ahead with the wedding was taken in consultation with doctors, including those in his family.

"Only around 60 to 70 people" of the family would attend the wedding, he claimed.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Ashwath Narayan has said action will be taken against the former chief minister "without a second thought" if guidelines were not followed during the wedding.

"If Kumaraswamy does not follow guidelines, action will be taken against him without a second thought," Mr Narayan said on Thursday, to questions on wedding preparations seen at the farmhouse.

"Kumaraswamy has made a public statement that guidelines will be followed. He is a people’s representative. He’s in public life for a long time. He should abide by guidelines. Since he has been in a responsible position for a long time...he was chief minister of Karnataka, he’s also an MLA from Ramnagar, so guidelines must be followed. There must not be any excuse, he can’t say that people came without invitation," Mr Narayan told news agency ANI.

The minister said he had asked for the event to be filmed and documented.

Karnataka has 315 coronavirus cases, including 13 deaths.