Despite losing his first-ever lok Sabha election from Amritsar, the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has decided to maintain his house in the holy city, and remain in touch with the people here.
The announcement to this effect was made by Union Minster for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Thursday while she was visiting the Golden Temple to pay obeisance.
“I had met Jaitley in Delhi recently, who assured me that he would remain in touch with Amritsar, maintain his house in the holy city and even work for its development,” said Harsimrat.
Jaitley, a senior BJP leader and a Rajya Sabha MP, unsuccessfully contested the Amritsar lok Sabha seat losing to former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh of Congress.
In reply to a question, she said that she respected the mandate of the people but could not restrain herself from admitting that the people had “missed a tremendous opportunity” by failing to elect Jaitley from this seat.
Earlier, Bathinda MP visited Jallianwala Bagh where she placed a wreath at the memorial constructed in memory of those who were massacred at the ground during the freedom struggle days.
She also visited Ram Tirath, where she was given a traditional welcome by the temple authorities. Harsimrat, Union Minister for Food Processing Industry also told reporters, “As far as I am concerned, my priorities are clear. I feel that there is a lot of wastage of foodgrains and that diversification coupled with food processing is the need of the hour.”