Speaker KG Bopaiah had approved the study tours on August 14 and the first batch of 18 members of the public undertaking committee left for 14-day trip to Dubai and South America on August 30. According to government estimates, the four tours would cost Rs. 8 crore. The government started feeling the heat after farmer leaders questioned the reason for the tours at the time of drought.

The criticism mounted after a legislator told the media there was no reason to let go of the study tour.

Amid rising public anger, chief minister Jagadish Shettar called back the first batch of touring MLAs on Tuesday.

According to sources, the government wants the foreign trips to be deferred by at least two months. Many of the MLAs scheduled to leave the country in the last week of September have clammed up following Shettar's decision and are unwilling to be quoted on what they think about plans which might be derailed.