Karnataka MLA Masala Jayaram Holds Birthday Bash Amid Lockdown

According to reports BJP MLA Masala Jayaram invited around 100 people and served them biryani for his birthday.

(Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

At a time when people are confined to their houses to flatten the curve of the coronavirus spread in the country, Karnataka MLA Masala Jayaram held a grand birthday party, flouting all social distancing norms, in his constituency in Tumakuru district on Friday, 10 April. The MLA invited people from his constituency, Turuvekere, to come and join in his birthday celebrations.

According to reports, the sitting BJP MLA served biriyani and cake to the guests who attended his birthday bash. Around 100 people reportedly gathered to celebrate the MLA’s birthday.

Visuals from the event show Masala Jayaram was dressed for the occasion wearing a Mysuru pete and wrapped in a purple shawl, wearing white latex gloves. He cut a chocolate cake under a shamiana while others stood around the table, cheering and taking photographs. In visuals, people could be seen standing close to each other, taking photographs and feeding the MLA cake.

Ironically, he gave a speech about how important it is to beat the coronavirus, according to a report in Deccan Chronicle.

(Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

(Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

Afterwards, locals thronged the building where food was being served. Social distancing norms were not followed, and in the visuals, people could not be seen using gloves or masks.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide lockdown due to the spread of coronavirus in the country up to 14 April. All social gatherings have been banned to contain the spread of the highly contagious virus.

Masala Jayaram’s name is thus due to the company he runs — Teju Masala, a company that sells masala powders.

(Published in an arrangement with The News Minute)