Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy is on week-long US tour. It is reported that this US Vastavya (US-stay) is a private affair and the government exchequer has not been used for the same.

Kumaraswamy will be off to the US from today, where his first programme is to take part in the event to lay the foundation stone for constructing Shri Kala Bhairaveshwara Temple in New Jersey. The temple is being constructed at a cost of Rs 20 crore.

Kumaraswamy was invited for the event by Vokkaliga seers including Nirmalananda Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri Mutt. 

After that, Kumaraswamy will also take part in the three-day convention of Vokkaliga Parishad. Dignitaries from the Vokkaliga community from all over the world are expected to take part in it. 

Recently, Kumaraswamy was caught in the storm of controversies during his Grama Vastavya (village stay) in Karnataka. He was criticised for losing his cool and shouting at protesters of Yeramarus Thermal Power Station in Raichur.

Kumaraswamy was caught warning the protesters and saying, “You have voted for the BJP, but want us to solve your problems.”

This statement had led to criticisms from BJP leaders. Issuing a clarification, Kumaraswamy has said that he was angry because he had already met and discussed the issue with the representatives of the Yeramarus Thermal Power Station employees. Despite that they stopped the bus and wanted the chief minister to alight and listen to their problem again and that made him angry, he said.

The village stay started with an aim to reach out to people and make JD(S) a popular party again, but the programme was confronted with many challenges. 

Some of the critics questioned: Is Kumaraswamy trying to get away from the problems in the state with this week-long US stay?