"Is It A Crime?": Karnataka Minister On Criticism Over Pool Photo Tweet

A Karnataka minister targeted by the Congress for posting a photo with his children in the pool hit out at his critics today, questioning whether "it is a crime" to spend time with his children in his own house. K Sudhakar, who is part of the state's coronavirus response team, has since deleted the tweet.

"In the last two months, I have hardly spent time with my family, my children. We are struggling. My children requested me to join them. How can I not join my children for 10, 15 minutes? It is a children's pool inside my own house. Is it a crime," Dr Sudhakar said, speaking to NDTV.

Dr Sudhakar had posted a photo with his children in the pool and commented: "After a long time joined my children for swimming hope maintaining social distancing here also..haha (sic)".

The minister had "behaved irresponsibly," Congress leader DK Shivakumar tweeted along with a screenshot of the post.

"When the whole world is going through a health crisis, the Corona in-charge Minister Dr. Sudhakar is behaving irresponsibly by spending time in a swimming pool. It's a matter of moral and ethical standards. He must resign out of his own accord and the Chief Minister should sack him from the cabinet," Mr Shivakumar tweeted.

When the whole world is going through a health crisis, the Corona in-charge Minister Dr. Sudhakar is behaving irresponsibly by spending time in a swimming pool.

It's a matter of moral & ethical standards. He must resign out of his own accord & CM should sack him from the cabinet pic.twitter.com/ZQlRzMoqrb

— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) April 13, 2020

As the state Medical education minister, Dr Sudhakar has been the face of the state government's efforts to fight COVID-19 and was till recently in charge of the virus war room. He was picked over B Sriramulu, who is state health minister, which surprised many.

Currently, S Suresh Kumar, the state education minister, is in charge of briefings on the state's COVID-19 situation.

Mr Sudhakar was among the rebels who quit the Congress last year, plunging the HD Kumarawamy-led government into a minority and enabling a takeover by the BJP.

After the BJP came to power, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa rewarded him and many other rebels like him with a place in his cabinet.

Karnataka has 232 coronavirus cases, including six deaths.

Across India, the number of coronavirus cases has climbed to 9,152; more than 300 have died.

Mr Sudhakar had joined the Chief Minister in a video conference on Saturday of all states with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to decide on whether to extend the lockdown. The PM is expected to announce an extension of the lockdown till April 30, with some economic measures this time.