Arun Jaitley Opts Out Of New Govt In PM Modi's Second Term
Present Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, has volunteered to stay out of the new council of ministers to be soon formed, citing health reasons.
A day ahead of Prime Minister Modi's swearing-in ceremony, Jaitley tweeted a letter he wrote to the PM, requesting reasonable recovery time for his health treatment and wishes to not be holding any responsibility in the new government for the time being.
"I am writing to you to formally request you that I should be allowed a reasonable time for myself, my treatment and my health and, therefore, not be part of any responsibility, for the present, in the new Government," he said.
I have today written a letter to the Hon’ble Prime Minister, a copy of which I am releasing: pic.twitter.com/8GyVNDcpU7
— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) 29 May 2019
He further said that he has faced some "serious health challenges" in the last one-and-a-half year.
Jaitley had taken a three-month break in last financial year following his kidney transplant, during which Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, took the additional responsibility of serving as the Finance Minister. Jaitley resumed work in August 2018, however, had to visit the US in January for a medical check-up. In his absence, Goyal presented the interim budget 2019 on 1 February.