Amritsar, Sept 5: Cricketer-turned-BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu today returned to Amritsar after a year and said his prolonged absence from his Lok Sabha constituency was due to his engagements in Mumbai to earn money.

"I am an honest man and I will tell you the truth. I went to Mumbai to earn money and that's the reason I could not come here," he told reporters.

"Now I am available full-time for my voters," the BJP lawmaker said.

Mr Sidhu, along with his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu, visited the city after landing at the airport where he was welcomed by his enthusiastic supporters.

The former cricketer was taken to his constituency in a procession organised by the party workers.

Mr Sidhu met all district administrators, including the Deputy Commissioner and the Mayor, and took stock of ongoing developmental works.

Local MLA and Congress leader Raj Kumar Verka slammed Mr Sidhu saying he was "fooling" the people by arriving in Amritsar ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

In a statement, the National Commission for SC and ST chairman Raj Kumar Verka described Mr Sidhu as a "fugitive" for the people of Amritsar.

"He has broken the people's trust. He is a fugitive whom the residents will never believe," Mr Verka said.

Last week, an NGO launched a poster campaign for the "missing" Mr Sidhu and announced a reward of Rs. two lakh for bringing him back to his constituency.

PTI