‘Brilliant lawyer, distinguished minister’: Tributes pour in for Arun Jaitley

The political class has expressed shock at the death of Arun Jaitley who died at the age of 66.

Arun Jaitley’s death on Saturday plunged his friends and opponents in politics commoners alike into mourning.

Former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley died in New Delhi on Saturday after a long illness.(PTI FILE PHOTO)

President Ram Nath Kovind led the country in paying tributes to the former finance minister and BJP stalwart.

“Extremely saddened by the passing of Shri Arun Jaitley after battling a long illness with fortitude and dignity. A brilliant lawyer, a seasoned parliamentarian, and a distinguished Minister, he contributed immensely to nation building…. His passing leaves a huge void in our public life and our intellectual ecosystem,” President Kovinf tweeted.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is in Dubai said he had lost a valued friend.

Jaitley who had been battling a series of illnesses had opted out of the government in the NDA’s second term earlier this year.

He died of multiple organ failure at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi on Saturday, two weeks after he was admitted on August 9.

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu described Jaitley as an able administrator and a man of impeccable integrity.

 

Union home minister Amit Shah who was closely associated with Jaitley cut short his visit to Hyderabad to return to Delhi. He described the former finance minister as a family member.

 “Deeply pained by the demise of #ArunJaitley ji. It is like a personal loss for me. I have not only lost a senior party leader but also an important family member who will forever be a guiding light for me,” Shah tweeted.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh said Jaitley was an asset to the government and the party organisation.

 

The Congress also tweeted its condolences. “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,” it said.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal who lost a defamation suit to Jaitley said his death was a loss to the nation.

 

Congress MP Shahshi Tharoor said despite political differences he had Jaitley enjoyed a healthy mutual respect.

 

Another Congress leader, Kapail Sibal said as Leader of Opposition Jaitley was without match

“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,” tweeted.

Former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy said the BJP leaders contribution to nation building is immense.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee who is a bitter opponent of the BJP said she was saddened Jaitley’s death.

Union minister Smriti Irani described the late leader as a stalwart who paid tribute to his simple beginnings by helping those with meagre means.