A lawyer by profession, he had been an important part in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet during his first tenure and held finance and defence portfolios. He often acted as the chief troubleshooter of the government.
Former finance minister Arun Jaitley breathed his last on Saturday. He was 66. Jaitley had been undergoing treatment at the hospital for several weeks. "It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of Arun Jaitley," the AIIMS said, in a brief statement. 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.
A lawyer by profession, he had been an important part in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet during his first tenure and held finance and defence portfolios. He often acted as the chief troubleshooter of the government.
Jaitley did not contest the Lok Sabha elections in 2019 presumably because of his ill-health.
Jaitley had undergone renal transplant on May 14 last year with Piyush Goyal filling in for him in the finance ministry at that time too. Jaitley, who had stopped attending office since early April 2018, was back in the finance ministry on August 23, 2018.
Earlier in September 2014, he underwent bariatric surgery to correct the weight he had gained because of a long-standing diabetic condition.
Here is how the BJP veteran was remembered
22:19 | British-based business magnate and philanthropist Swraj Paul mourns the death of former Union minister Arun Jaitley
"Shocked and sad to learn about the death of Arun Jaitley. He was a great human being, a very principled barrister and a very principled politician. From a family point of view, he was a marvellous husband, marvellous father and a great friend. I always treated him like a son," said Paul.
21:54 | BJP general secretary Ram Madhav remembers former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
"Jaitley had the competence to handle finance ministry on the one hand and defence ministry on the other with ease," he said.
21:24 | Envoys and diplomatic missions of several countries condoled the passing away of former Union minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday, and described him as a statesman.
"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," French envoy in India Alexandre Ziegler said in a tweet.
21:20 | Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu pays tribute to former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who passed away earlier today
20:59 | Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pays tribute to former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
20:30 | Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig (Retd) Dr BD Mishra mourns the death of former Union minister Arun Jaitley and said he had worked selflessly and relentlessly for the good of the nation. The nation has lost a great visionary, statesman, outstanding parliamentarian, legal luminary, a towering intellectual and an able administrator, the governor said in his message.
20:04 | India TV Chairman and Editor-In-Chief Rajat Sharma posts a tweet in honour of his friend for over 50 years, Arun Jaitley
20:00 | Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra singh rawat arrives at Arun Jaitley's residence to pay tributes to former Finance Minister
19:52 | Union Home Minister Amit Shah pays tribute to former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
"Arun Jaitley's demise is an unbearable loss to the workers of BJP. As a student leader, he was jailed for 19 months during the emergency. As a Member of Parliament, he always raised the voice of the people and acted as a crusader against corruption."
"Whenever I faced trouble in my life, Arun Jaitley ji stood by me. Today he is not with us anymore, I pray to the almighty to give peace to the departed soul and give strength to his family and BJP workers, to cope with this loss," Amit Shah says.
19:23 | Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh pay tribute to former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
Sonia Gandhi pays tribute to Arun Jaitley
Rahul Gandhi pays tribute to Arun Jaitley
19:16 | Raj Thackeray pays tribute to former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
"Shri Arun Jaitley, our former Finance Minister, a senior BJP member and a brilliant orator, who with his spirited debating capabilities, energised the Parliament. The Maharastra Navnirman Sena humbly pays its tribute to Shri. Jaitley," he says
19:14 | Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma pay tributes to former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
19:11 | India TV Chairman and Editor-In-Chief Rajat Sharma pays tribute to former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
India TV Chairman and Editor-In-Chief Rajat Sharma pays tribute to Arun Jaitley
19:00 | Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pays tribute to former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, says, "The nation will never forget his contribution, he was an asset to the party, the government when he was part of it, and the country. He is not with us anymore, I pay tribute to him."
18:48 | Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman pays tribute to former Union Minister Arun Jaitley
18:23 | Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Pinaki Misra pay tributes to former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
18:16 | Rahul Gandhi condoles the death of former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, says "I am sorry to hear about Arun Jaitley's passing. My condolences to his family and friends. May he rest in peace."
17:58 | Veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani pays tribute to former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath pays tribute to Arun Jaitley.
17:52 | Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lays wreaths, on his & Prime Minister Narendra Modi's behalf, on mortal remains of Arun Jaitley.
17:50 | US Embassy: US Mission in India grieves with people of India on demise of former Minister Arun Jaitley. He'll be remembered for his long & distinguished service. Especially notable was his introduction of GST, efforts to improve ease of doing business,&measures to combat corruption
17:50 | US Embassy: Minister Jaitley recognized the importance of US-India relationship & worked to improve economic ties between our countries. US Mission in India extends our deepest condolences to former Minister Jaitley’s family& many friends, as well as to all the citizens of India
17:18 | Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath pays tribute to Arun Jaitley.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath pays tribute to Arun Jaitley.
17:13 | It's a big loss for BJP, country & for me personally. He was a very talented person, brilliant people like him are rarely seen in politics. I pray to the almighty to give peace to his soul & give strength to his family at this moment of grief: J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik
17:11 | President Ram Nath Kovind pays tribute to former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
17:02 | External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar pays tribute to former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
17:07 | Uttarakhand Government has declared state mourning of a day following demise of Former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley; the national flag will fly at half mast.
16:12 | Union Home Minister Amit Shah pays tribute to former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who passed away at All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
16:08 | Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to pay tribute to Arun Jaitley, on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
15:50 | Jaitley's mortal remains reach his residence
15:35 | BJP owes Arun Jaitley for being what it is today, says Kapil Sibal
Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Saturday said Arun Jaitley was fateful to his ideology till his last breath and the BJP owes him for being what it is today.
Sibal said, "We have lost someone whom the nation needed for many years."
Sibal said Jaitley was a man of exceptional qualities and abilities and was wedded to an ideology since his university days and was "fateful to that ideology till his last breath".
Jaitley was a man who breathed politics, understood politics and was committed to the country, Sibal said.
15:27 | Jaitley's mortal remains are being taken to his Kailash Colony residence
15:21 | BJP Working President JP Nadda & Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan laid wreaths on mortal remains on Arun Jaitley.
15:15 | Jaitley a combination of knowledge, sharpness of mind, says Shaktikanta Das
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has 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.
Last year after a prolonged stand-off between the finance ministry and the RBI which was then headed by Urjit Patel, Jaitley had brought in Das as the RBI Governor after Patel resigned before his term.
14:50 | Lost a close friend: Rajat Sharma mourns Jaitley's demise
Rajat Sharma, editor-in-chief and chairman, India TV, has expressed sorrow on the passing away of Arun Jaitley, former Union Minister and his close friend.
"I have lost a dear and close friend for five decades," Rajat Sharma said. "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," Rajat Sharma tweeted.
15:10 | Personally, deeply saddened by Jaitley's demise, says CJI Ranjan Gogoi
Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on Saturday said with the demise of Arun Jaitley, the country has lost "an eminent senior advocate" and "a tall leader".
"I am personally, deeply saddened by the passing of Arun Jaitley," the CJI told PTI.
Justice Gogoi said on behalf of the country's judiciary, "I express my condolences to his family and pray for the noble soul to rest in peace."
14:43 | Jaitley to be cremated on Sunday
Former finance minister Arun Jaitley, who passed away at AIIMS in New Delhi on Saturday, will be cremated at the Nigam Bodh Ghat on Sunday.
"Jaitley's body will reach the BJP office at 10 am on Sunday and thereafter cremation will take place at the Nigam Bodh Ghat at 2 pm," a party official said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stalwart's body will be taken to his residence in Kailash Colony from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) later in the day.
14:42 | Jaitley's contribution to public life will be remembered, says Sonia Gandhi
Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi has condoled the death of Arun Jaitley.
In a statement, Sonia Gandhi expressed deep pain and distress at the untimely passing away of Jaitley.
Condoling his death 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."
14:37 | Jaitley's mortal remains will be brought to BJP headquarters at 11 am on Sunday. 'Antim Darshan' will be held from 11 am to 2 pm
14:25 | Jaitley's 'sound legal advice' was trusted across political divide, says Solicitor General
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.
14:23 | Naveen Patnaik expresses grief
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik described Jaitley as an "erudite person".
"Deeply saddened to hear about passing away of former Union Minister Arun Jaitley ji. He was a distinguished lawyer, parliamentarian and an erudite person," Patnaik tweeted.
14:15 | Former president Pranab Mukherjee tweets
14:00 | Jaitley was a mentor and guide, says Sitharaman
13:45 | Jaitley's demise 'big loss' for country, legal fraternity, says Attorney General
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.
Condoling the death of the former Finance Minister, Venugopal told PTI: "His death is not only a loss for the country but also the legal community and his political party."
"We all will be missing him and his memory will last for long future to come (sic)," he added.
13:39 | Mayawati tweets
13:21 | PM Modi tweets
13:20 | PM Modi speaks with Jaitley's family
13:13 | President Ram Nath Kovind expresses grief
13:07 | TMC leader Derek O'Brien tweets
13:00 | Union Home Minister Amit Shah expresses grief
12:57 | Deeply saddened, says Congress
12:55 | West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expresses grief
12:50 | "Deeply anguished by the demise of my friend and an extremely valued colleague Arun Jaitley," tweets Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
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