After row, Tourism Minister H K Patil asks KSTDC to explain Wayanad package ad

Tourism Minister H K Patil has sought an explanation from the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) on its advertisement promoting Wayanad in Kerala, which is represented by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Lok Sabha. 

The KSTDC, in an October 28 tweet, promoted a two-night and three-day tour package to Wayanad saying: “Seeking thrill or tranquility? Find both in Wayanad! Trek scenic trails, chase waterfalls & meet the wild with KSTDC. Your perfect nature escape awaits.” 

The Opposition BJP criticised this, and said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was trying to save his chair by “high command appeasement.”

Reacting to criticism, Patil said: “I’ve asked the KSTDC managing director to explain why the ad was issued, its intention and whether or not we have any hotel there (in Wayanad).” 

Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka asked Siddaramaiah why he was behaving like “Wayanad’s district collector and fund raiser”. 

In a tweet, Ashoka said: “You (Siddaramaiah) signed off Rs 10 crore of Karnataka taxpayers’ money to Wayanad at lightning speed. You gave away Rs 15 lakh to the family of a man killed by an elephant. You announced building 100 houses in Wayanad after a landslide. You used KSTDC, Karnataka’s own tourism corporation, to promote tourism in Wayanad, Priyanka Gandhi’s constituency.” 

Ashoka reminded Siddaramaiah about the recent floods in North Karnataka. “Where’s flood relief for Kalaburagi, Raichur, Yadgir, Bidar, Vijayapura, Bagalkot and Belagavi? Where’s the urgency? What are your priorities?” he said. 

BJP MLC CT Ravi, a former tourism minister, wondered if Wayanad belonged to Karnataka, or KSTDC to Kerala. “This Congress government is mortgaging the state’s honour just to please its leader,” he said.