Netizens fume at Udupi DC’s ‘callousness’

Udupi, April 24, 2021: More than the Weekend Curfew, the social media is abuzz about Udupi DC G Jagadeesh violating COVID norms when he attended a ‘Mehndi,’ program yesterday.

Jagadeesh had attended the ‘Mehndi,’ celebration of Udupi Additional SPs daughter on Friday night. A photo of him standing along with others was clicked at 8.45 pm. By 9.30 pm the social media was abuzz about the ‘violation,’ of COVID norms by the Deputy Commissioner.

“Three days ago Deputy Commissioner was seen stopping the buses and asking the people to get down as the bus was heavily crowded. He also fined those people without masks and institutions where employees did not have a mask. Now the same DC is attending a ‘Mehndi,’ celebration without a mask. Social distancing too was not maintained,” a person commented on the Facebook page.

“Yesterday my neighbor was told by the officials in Udupi that the permission is only for weddings and not any other celebration. Then what about the ‘Mehndi,’ celebration. How was it held and how did the DC attend it,” another person added.

Many expressed their anger when they saw the Deputy Commissioner reply which they felt was not needed.

“On another occasion in another place, the DC had taken a photo without the mask. When people commented, the DC was seen replying that he had removed the mask as requested by the children. He also said that he need not learn from others. This is not a dignified comment,” he added.

G Jagadeesh was familiar because of his announcements and videos related to COVID. He was repeatedly seen warning the officials and people to follow COVID norms.

But now after the photo went viral, people have expressed unhappiness alleging that all his ‘strict,’ instructions were for publicity.

The video of the Mehendi program too had gone viral and attracted criticism.