Ex Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley passes away
NEW DELHI: Indian politicians have come together to pay condolences to Arun Jaitley, the country’s former Finance Minister who passed away at the age of 66.
Jaitley was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and was pronounced dead by doctors at the hospital seven minutes after noon local time, on 24 August, 2019.
Dr Aarti Vij, the chairperson of the AIIMS media and protocol division, said, “It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of Shri Arun Jaitley, Honourable Member of Parliament and former Finance Minister, Government of India, at 12:07 pm on 24 August 2019. Shri Arun Jaitley was admitted in AIIMS on 09 August 2019, and was treated by a multidisciplinary team of senior doctors.”
In the wake of Jaitley’s passing, several senior ministers and Indian politicians have conveyed their condolences at the passing for the Bhartiya Janata Party stalwart.
“Deeply grieved at the passing away of Shri Arun Jaitley ji,” said Dr S Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister. “A towering political figure who influenced an entire generation. Will miss our discussions, on politics as much as cricket.”
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the country’s Union Minister of Minority Affairs, added, “the country today lost a lively person whose every moment of life was a textbook of inspiration. Arun Jaitley ji’s demise is an irreparable loss to the nation,” and Harsimrat Kaur Badal, India’s Union Cabinet Minister of Food Processing, said, “Arun Jaitley ji’s passing has left a void for all of us. A distinguished parliamentarian and visionary, Jaitley Ji won people’s respect by his unflinching efforts for public welfare & nation building.”
Several parliamentary members also offered condolences to Jaitley, with Odisha Member of Parliament Anubhav Mohanty saying, “Deeply saddened to know of the demise of former Union minister and senior BJP leader, Shri Arun Jaitley ji. My heartfelt condolences to his family members and friends. May God give them strength. May his soul rest in peace.”