KS Eshwarappa in Nepal despite CM’s directive

BANGALORE: State BJP president KS Eshwarappa is on a foreign trip to Nepal despite a directive from chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda that all ministers should be in the state overseeing drought-relief measures, Party insiders said Eshwarappa has gone to Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu with his family.
Gowda, however, defended Eshwarappa’s trip saying it is a religious visit.
“Eshwarappa has gone to Nepal on a temple visit, not for any other purpose,” the chief minister said on Monday. The BJP chief is likely to return on Wednesday. The CM had recalled social welfare minister A Narayanaswamy, who had gone to the US on a personal visit with his family last week. Citing the drought situation, Gowda had cancelled last month’s visit to Singapore and Japan to woo investors.
A team of legislators, who had planned to go on 18-day junket to Europe, postponed the trip to June-July after the CM intervened. Recently, the government issued a circular telling officials to put off government-sponsored foreign tours for a couple of months and concentrate on implementing drought-relief work. However, there is no bar on official visits if the foreign tour is sponsored by non-governmental agencies.