Arun Jaitley no more: Condolences pour in for the BJP stalwart
Arun Jaitley was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi after he complained of breathlessness and restlessness. He was admitted at the Cardio-Neuro-Centre of the hospital on August 9 at around 10 pm.
Former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who breathed his last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences on Saturday after a prolonged illness, was not only one of the tallest BJP leaders but also the party troubleshooter who had unprecedented acceptability in the opposition ranks. Probably that explains the condolences that are pouring in after his demise from all possible quarters.
Condolences have been pouring in for the former Union Minister.India TV Editor-In-Chief and Chairman Rajat Sharma expressed profound grief on former Union Minister Arun Jaitley's demise.
Former Union minister and MP Shashi Tharoor condoles the death of senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley. Despite political differences with Jaitely, Tharoor said they had enjoyed a healthy, mutual respect.
Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi expresses grief on the passing away of Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
President Ram Nath Kovind said Arun Jaitley possessed a unique ability of discharging the most onerous responsibility with poise, passion and studied understanding, while remembering Jaitley's immense contribution to nation building,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Arun Jaitley’s wife and son, and expressed his condolences. Both of them insisted that the Prime Minister should not cancel his current foreign tour.
Taking on to Twitter, PM Modi in a series of Tweet said Jaitley was multi-faceted, having impeccable knowledge about India’s Constitution, history, public policy, governance and administration.
Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu said Jaitley's death is an irreparable loss to the nation and a personal loss to him.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Jaitley's demise is a personal loss for him.
Editor-in-Chief Chairman, India TV Rajat Sharma took to the social media to condole Jaitley's demise, says India has lost an able administrator.
#ArunJaitley, my dear and close friend for 5 decades, is no more. In his passing away, #India has lost an able administrator, a fine jurist and an incorruptible politician. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Om Shanti.
@arunjaitley
Union Minister for Textiles Smriti Irani tweeted:
A stalwart who paid tribute to his simple beginnings by helping those with meagre means. Orator par excellence, legal luminary
@arunjaitley ji served the Nation and sangathan with dedication and zeal. My tributes to him. Condolences to loved ones. Om Shanti.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted: Arun Jaitley ji served the nation in several capacities and he was an asset to the government and the party organisation. He always had a deep and clear understanding of the issues of the day. His knowledge and articulation won him several friends.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman paid rich tributes to her predecessor Arun Jaitley, describing him as a mentor with matchless astuteness.
"No words can describe the loss of Shri Arun Jaitley. A mentor to many of us, a guide and a moral support and strength. Have learnt so much from him. A fine large-hearted person. Always ready to help anyone/everyone. His intelligence, sagacity, astuteness have no match," she said in a tweet.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed her grief at the sad demise of Arun Jaitley.
"Extremely saddened at the passing away of Arun Jaitley Ji, after a battle bravely borne. An outstanding Parliamentarian & a brilliant lawyer, appreciated across parties. His contribution to Indian polity will be remembered. My condolences to his wife, children, friends & admirers", she tweeted.
Jaitley had great intellect, knowledge, says Pranab Mukherjee
Condoling the death of former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, former president Pranab Mukherjee said that he was a leader with deep intellect and knowledge.
"Deeply saddened at the untimely passing away of Arun Jaitley. Visited him just day before and prayed for his speedy recovery. He was a leader with deep intellect and knowledge, and a voice of reason. He will be dearly missed. My prayers with his family, friends and admirers," Mukherjee tweeted.
Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh said: Sad to hear that former Union Minister #ArunJaitley ji has passed away. My thoughts are with his family in this time of grief. May his soul rest in peace.
Remembering Jaitley, Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien said though he and Jaitley was polar opposite in ideology but was his mentor in his early years in Parliament.
French Ambassador to India Alexandre Ziegler said France stands with India and its people in this time of deep grief.
"On behalf of France, I offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Shri Arun Jaitley ji. As the nation mourns its former FM & one of Rajya Sabha's most prominent voices, France stands with India and its people in this time of deep grief," he tweeted.
The Congress Party Tweeted: We are deeply saddened to hear the passing of Shri Arun Jaitley. Our condolences to his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this time of grief.
Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati said Jaitley's contribution to the politics of the country will not be forgotten.
Jaitley's demise 'big loss' for country, legal fraternity, says Attorney General K K Venugopal
Attorney General K K Venugopal on Saturday termed the passing away of senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Arun Jaitley as a "big loss" for the country, his party and the legal fraternity.
Describing Jaitley as the brain behind managing difficult situations faced by the BJP, Venugopal said he had lost a "friend" who was an excellent lawyer and an equally good politician.
"His death is not only a loss for the country but also the legal community and his political party," news agency PTI quoted Venugopal as saying.
"We all will be missing him and his memory will last for long future to come (sic)," he added.
In his condolence message, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das said Arun His contribution to the development of the country will always be remembered.
Meanwhile, all programmes of Raghubar Das scheduled for today and tomorrow, have been postponed in view of former Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley's demise.
Telangana chief minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao and Andhra Pradesh chief minister condole Jaitley's death.
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, in his condolence message, recalled the services rendered by Jaitley to the nation and prayed that the former Finance Minister's soul may rest in peace. Rao conveyed his condolences to the members of the bereaved family.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also expressed grief over the death of the BJP stalwart and conveyed his deep-felt condolences to the bereaved family members.
"Jaitley has been a legal luminary and an articulate parliamentarian who made his indelible mark on the political landscape during the Narendra Modi government. May his soul rest in peace," said Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said: "Deeply saddened to hear about passing away of former Union Minister Arun Jaitley ji. He was a distinguished lawyer, parliamentarian and an erudite person. His contribution to governance has been profound. Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, friends and followers,"
Jaitley's 'sound legal advise' was trusted across political divide, says Solicitor General Tushar Mehta
With the passing away of Arun Jaitley, the country has lost a brilliant parliamentarian, an intelligent statesman and a legal luminary whose advise was trusted by all in public life across the political divide, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said on Saturday.
"It is a great loss for the nation, the Indian polity and the legal fraternity," Mehta told PTI, condoling the former Union Minister's demise.
The Solicitor General said Jaitley always left a lasting imprint on anyone he came in touch with and as a senior advocate, guided his political and professional colleagues with mature legal advice and "stood by them during the most adverse circumstances".
"He will be remembered as a sane voice, a dependable friend, an intelligent statesman and a legal luminary whose sound legal advise was trusted by all persons in public life across the political divide," Mehta added.
Union Minister Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said: "I am deeply pained at the sad demise of my brother and my mentor. He was always available for all of us with his sage advice. It is a great personal loss for me and my family."
'Jaitley a combination of knowledge, sharpness of mind': RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was a unique combination of extraordinary knowledge, sharpness of mind and wisdom.
"Deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Shri Arun Jaitley. No words to describe the sense of grief. A great personality. Unique combination of extraordinary knowledge, sharpness of mind and wisdom. Above all a good human being. May his soul rest in peace", Das tweeted.
'Bar has lost an eminent jurist and its pride'
Mourning the demise of former Union Minister and senior advocate Arun Jaitley, the Bar Council of India on Saturday said the "Bar has lost an eminent jurist and one of its tallest members."
"Bar has lost an eminent jurist, a talented leader and one of its tallest members. A politician who was acceptable to people across the party lines. He always stood for the causes of the legal fraternity. He was a true friend of friends and was the pride for the Bar," said senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra, chairman, Bar Council of India.
"Mr. Jaitley was one of the best bilingual orators (English & Hindi) and a noted Parliamentarian. It won't be possible to fill the void created due to the demise of the legal giant," Mishra added.
Jaitley was every non-BJP person's favourite BJP-ite: Jairam Ramesh
In a fitting tribute to Arun Jaitley's camaraderie with opposition leaders, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday said the former finance minister was "every non-BJP person's favourite BJP-ite".
"Arun Jaitley was every non-BJP person's favourite BJP-ite. Son-in-law of stalwart J&K Congressman, he was amongst the sharpest legal and political brains with a great sense of humour and repartee," News agency PTI quoted Ramesh as saying in his tribute to Jaitley.
"I once referred to him as Bedi+Pras(anna)+Chandra+Venkat for his extraordinary spinning abilities and he enjoyed it hugely. The GST Council may be amongst his most enduring contributions," he said.