Political leaders in Delhi offered floral tributes to former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley at his Kailash Colony residence in South Delhi. From President Ram Nath Kovind to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and leaders of Delhi BJP unit thronged Jaitley’s residence.
Recalling college days, BJP leader Vijay Goel said, “We both fought Students’ Union election in Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC). He became president and I became the secretary. Since then, I have shared a great relationship with him.”
A Delhi BJP leader said during the period of Emergency (1975-77), Jaitley was placed under preventive detention first in the Ambala Jail and then in the Tihar Jail in Delhi.
Party leaders from across the political spectrum, BJP workers and admirers filed past the body, which was kept in a glass casket, offering flowers and wreaths.
Union Ministers Shah, Harsh Vardhan, Jitendra Singh, S Jaishankar and BJP working president JP Nadda were seen paying last respects to Jaitley at his residence. CM Kejriwal, Uttar Pardesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also paid homage to departure soul.
“Jaitley was one of the finest politicians in the country. He was a great human being and an excellent orator. I shared very good relations with him. Nothing will be able to make up for this loss. Delhi will miss him,” Kejriwal said.
Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari also paid homage to Jaitely. He said the nation has lost a great economist and an advocate. Jaitleyji had great affection for the people of Delhi. He had been guiding Delhi BJP from time to time,”
A number of Delhi BJP leaders, party MPs Gautam Gambhir, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma paid floral tributes to the senior BJP leader. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and his wife and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal were also present at the former Union finance minister’s residence.
Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s foster daughter Namita Kaul also laid wreath on Jaitley’s body.
Jaitley was a leader of both eras from former Prime Minister of India Ataj Bihari Vajpayi to Modi-Shah, Jaitely’s demise is a huge loss for BJP leaders.
“In 1977, being the convener of the Loktantric Yuva Morcha at a time when the Congress suffered a humiliating defeat in the General Elections, I (Jaitely) was appointed the president of the Delhi ABVP and All India Secretary of the ABVP. Later, I headed the youth wing of the BJP as its president,” a few lines from Jaitely’s blog quoted.
West Delhi MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma said, “I cannot believe we have lost him. It is a massive loss to the nation and to me personally. We will continue to follow the path he showed. He told us Rome was not built in a day and one needs to make continuous efforts to accomplish. He loved me like a son.”
Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, MP Hans Raj Hans and Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijendra Gupta were among those who visited Jaitley’s residence. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are expected to reach there soon.
Paswan said Jaitley was a perfect leader and only he could manage all important ministries including the Law and Finance Ministry. “It is my individual loss, but a bigger loss to Indian politics,” he added.
Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Smriti Irani, Om Birla, Hardeep Puri, Jitender Singh, Anurag Thakur, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Manoj Tiwari, Ramesh Bidhuri were among the leaders, who rushed to AIIMS after hearing the news of Jaitley’s demise.
Union Minister Harsh Vardhan and senior advocate Geeta Luthra were present at the hospital since early Saturday morning.
Jaitley will be cremated at the Nigam Bodh Ghat here on Sunday, party sources said.
