Karnataka Agriculture Minister B.C. Patil, who sparked a controversy on Tuesday by getting himself inoculated at his home in Hirekerur in violation of COVID-19 protocols, defended his action saying that he had ‘not committed any crime’.
The Minister reportedly summoned the taluk health official and staff to his home and got the vaccine shots for himself and his wife.
A video and photographs of the incident soon became viral on social media platforms evoking strong reactions from netizens and Opposition leaders of ‘misusing power and blatantly violating the norms’.
Mr Patil said inconvenience could have been caused to people waiting at the hospital, had he gone there.
Moreover several people were waiting to meet him at his residence and after getting vaccine he was able to speak to them. “It is not a big issue at all. What is wrong in getting vaccine at home,” he said.
However, District Health Officer Rajendra Doddamani has issued notice to the Hirekerur Taluk Health Officer for violating the COVID-19 protocol.
