Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Arun Jaitley passes away at 66
New Delhi : Arun Jaitley, former Union Minister and BJP senior leader, passed away at Delhi's AIIMS, on Saturday at the age of 66.
Releasing an official statement, the hospital said that Arun Jaitley passed away at 12.07 pm.
"It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of Shri Arun Jaitley... Shri Arun Jaitley was admitted in AIIMS, New Delhi on 09/08/2019 and was treated by a multidisciplinary team of senior doctors," said AIIMS in a statement.
He was admitted to the hospital on August 9 this year after he complained of breathlessness.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in the UAE, said Mr Jaitley was a "political giant, towering intellectual and legal luminary."
"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," PM Modi tweeted.
With the demise of Arun Jaitley Ji, I have lost a valued friend, whom I have had the honour of knowing for decades. His insight on issues and nuanced understanding of matters had very few parallels. He lived well, leaving us all with innumerable happy memories. We will miss him!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 24, 2019
Home Minister Amit Shah said Arun Jaitley guided him during the political course.
"Deeply saddened by Arun Jaitley's death. His death is a personal loss for me. I have not just lost a senior party colleague but also a member of my family, who guided me for several years," Mr Shah tweeted.
Mr Jaitley's long-time colleague and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh said he will always be remembered for "pulling the economy out of the gloom and putting it back on the right track."
Nirmala Sitharaman, who succeeded Mr Jaitley as the Finance Minister, said Mr Jaitley's "intelligence, sagacity, astuteness have no match."
