Will ensure that Punjab's voice is heard more in Delhi: Jaitley

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and the BJP's candidate from Amritsar Arun Jaitley on Saturday said he humbly accepts the praise heaped on him by Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, and also pledged that it will be his focus that Punjab's voice is heard more in parliament.

"These are all comments made in the course of a campaign. I can assure you that I am not looking for any position. Probably what he had in his mind is quite legitimate, that Amritsar and Punjab needs a good voice at the centre, and probably, that is one of the expectations from me. And, with all humility and modesty, I must say that I am reasonably qualified to be that effective voice of this region in Delhi," Jaitley said.

The BJP's Lok Sabha candidate also placed emphais on the need for overall infrastructural development in Amritsar.

"This city has a historical place in India. The religion promotes tourism, and it is also a city of trade. Att one stage, it was known for manufacturing, although manufacturing is going down. Hence, Amritsar needs a boost in infrastructural development. I have seen in the last few years, flyovers and roads improving. The environment of trade and business, including religious tourism infrastructure, has to improve. If we make a breakthrough in border trade and expand, then this city becomes a hub of border trade, and that itself is the aspiration of the people here," Jaitley added.

On Friday, Badal introduced Jaitley as a future deputy prime minister-in-waiting to the people of the border district of Attari during the BJP leader 's first public rally here, which could potentially raise hackles within the BJP.