New Delhi: Former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who died on Saturday at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) following prolonged illness, leaders from all the parties condoled his demise.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in UAE as part of a three-nation visit, described Jaitley as a “political giant, towering intellectual and legal luminary”.
“Arun Jaitley was a political giant, towering intellectual and legal luminary. He was an articulate leader who made a lasting contribution to India. His passing away is very saddening. Spoke to his wife Sangeeta Ji as well as son Rohan, and expressed condolences. Om Shanti,” he tweeted.
Arun Jaitley Ji was a political giant, towering intellectual and legal luminary. He was an articulate leader who made a lasting contribution to India. His passing away is very saddening. Spoke to his wife Sangeeta Ji as well as son Rohan, and expressed condolences. Om Shanti.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 24, 2019
“On late Thursday night last week, he was put on ECMO. This is a higher version of a ventilator. His lungs were not working. ECMO was used to manage his heart. As he was also diagnosed with soft tissue skin cancer, fungal infection increased extensively,” a senior doctor of AIIMS said.
Amit Shah tweeted, “Deeply pained by the demise of Shri Arun Jaitley ji. His untimely demise is a personal loss for me. I have lost not only a senior leader of the organization but also an integral member of the family, whose support and guidance I have been receiving for years.”
I am deeply saddened by the demise of Shri Arun Jaitley ji. His untimely demise is a personal loss for me. I have lost not only a senior leader of the organization but also an integral member of the family, whose support and guidance I have been receiving for years.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 24, 2019
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted, ” Deeply anguished by the demise of my friend and an extremely valued colleague Shri Arun Jaitley ji. He was a proficient lawyer by profession and an efficient politician by passion.”
Deeply anguished by the demise of my friend and an extremely valued colleague Shri Arun Jaitley ji. He was a proficient lawyer by profession and an efficient politician by passion.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 24, 2019
Sonia Gandhi said Jaitley had a long innings as a public figure, Parliamentarian and Minister and his contributions to public life will forever be remembered.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted, ” Deeply saddened by the tragic passing of my friend and Delhi University senior Arun Jaitley. We first met when he was at DUSU and I was President of St Stephen’s College Union. Despite political differences, we enjoyed healthy mutual respect and debated his budget often in Lok Sabha. A great loss 4 India.”
Deeply saddened by the tragic passing of my friend&DelhiUniv senior @arunjaitley. We first met when he was at DUSU& I was President of StStephen’sCollegeUnion. Despite political differences we enjoyed a healthy mutual respect&debated his Budget often in LS. A great loss4India pic.twitter.com/RzxO1V6NTV
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 24, 2019
Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said Jaitley, an “old friend and a dear colleague” will be remembered for his seminal contributions to the polity and as finance minister of India. “As Leader of Opposition, he was without a match. He always stood steadfastly for his friends and for his party,” he wrote on Twitter.
Very sorry to learn that Arun Jaitley is no more . An old friend and a dear colleague will be remembered for his seminal contributions to the polity and as FM of India . As Leader of Opposition he was without match . He always stood steadfastly for his friends and for his party .
— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) August 24, 2019
Jaitley’s body has been taken to his house in Greater Kailash area in South Delhi where it will be kept till tomorrow morning. It will be taken to the BJP headquarters tomorrow morning before funeral at the Nigambodh Ghat on the banks of Yamuna.
