New Delhi: Union Minister Arun Jaitley assumed charge of the Finance Ministry on Friday after a brief break. He was in the United States (US) to seek medical treatment and has returned last week. Soon after taking charge, Jaitley attended a Cabinet Committee meeting on Pulwama attack at 9.15 am on Friday. The meeting focussed on the attack that took place in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama in which 40 soldiers were killed.

After emerging from the meeting, Jaitley wrote on Twitter, "Attack on CRPF in Pulwama, J&K is cowardice & a condemnable act of terrorists. Nation salutes martyred soldiers and we all stand united with families of martyrs. We pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. Terrorists will be given an unforgettable lesson for their heinous act."

In his absence, the reins of the ministry had been given to Piyush Goyal, who also presented the interim budget earlier this month.

Jaitley had left for New York on January 13 after being diagnosed with soft tissue cancer. He had also recently undergone a renal transplant surgery at AIIMS in May last year.