State Cong President Shivakumar rejected to take COVID test

Since leading the Padayatra to Mekedatu, DK Shivakumar has been the focus of attention. The BJP has uploaded a video on Twitter of Shivakumar coughing during the march. "I am fit and fine," he answered when asked to undergo a COVID test to determine his health status. You can't force me to give you a sample. Tell your Home Minister that I am perfect."

DK Shivakumar and his Karnataka Congress colleagues have begun a padayatra, or walk, to Mekedatu to put pressure on the federal government and the state government to begin work on the $9 billion projects, which will help provide water to Karnataka residents for both drinking and irrigation.

Because the yatra began on Saturday, when Karnataka was under a weekend curfew, the Congress party disregarded the state's rules. There were no COVID protocols followed or COVID acceptable behavior seen during the yatra, which began with a joyful celebration.

In the midst of this, the leader's video surfaced in which he was seen coughing and was requested to undergo a COVID test, which he declined.

Karnataka Home minister Araga Jnanendra said on Congress' Mekedatu padayatra."An FIR has been registered against 30 people for violating Covid-19 protocols. Ramanagara district administration has taken action as per the law. We will not spare anybody who violates the law"

Shivakumar, the chairman of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), had previously declined to undergo the COVID-19 test, questioning why he was being requested to be tested when he had no symptoms. Shivakumar criticized the Basavaraj Bommai-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration in Karnataka, telling reporters in Kanakapura that they made money off corpses.'

He further stated that the padayatra is scheduled for ten days and that nothing will prevent him from taking part in it. He also challenged the state home minister to arrest him for taking part in the padayatra despite the fact that COVID-19 regulations were in effect.