In a shocking statement, a BJP MLA from Karnataka openly threatened to defy Covid protocols and said the police would have to shoot him in order to make him stop.

During a programme in his Vijayapura constituency, BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal first asked why Covid norms are being imposed on Hindu festivals while other communities continue to celebrate their festivals in full vigour.

While speaking in the presence of the Superintendent of Police and District Collector, Yatnal said that he would defy the protocols and celebrate the Hindu festivals. “You will have to shoot me to stop me from doing so,” he added.

Curiously, Basangouda Patil Yatnal is an MLA of the ruling party in Karnataka and the restrictions have been imposed in the state on the orders of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

He was openly defying the orders of his own chief minister, who is taking extreme precaution in reopening services and activities amid the Covid situation in the state.

Meanwhile,  Karnataka reported 1,350 new Covid-19 cases and 18 deaths on Saturday, taking the total number of infections to 29,37,427 and the toll to 37,123.

The day also saw 1,648 discharges, taking the total number of recoveries in the state so far to 28,79,433.

With 320 new cases, Dakshina Kannada outnumbered the state capital Bengaluru Urban that reported 260 infections on Saturday.

The total number of active cases in the state is now 20,845.

While the positivity rate for the day stood at 0.85 per cent, the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) was 1.33 per cent.