President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday condoled the demise of former Union minister and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley.
Kovind said Jaitley possessed a unique ability of discharging the most onerous responsibility with poise and passion. ‘ Arun Jaitley possessed a unique ability of discharging the most onerous responsibility with poise, passion and studied understanding.
‘His passing leaves a huge void in our public life and our intellectual ecosystem. Condolences to his family and associates,’ said Kovind in a tweet.The President said he was extremely saddened by the passing of Jaitley who battled a long illness with fortitude and dignity.
Mr Kovind said as a brilliant lawyer, a seasoned parliamentarian and a distinguished Minister, Jaitley contributed immensely to nation building. Expressing his deep shock, Mr Naidu said Jaitley was a long time dear friend and one of his closest associates.
‘His death is an irreparable loss to the nation and a personal loss to me. I have no words to express my grief,’ he wrote in his tweet. ‘Jaitley strove hard and burnt the midnight oil to bring about a consensus across the political spectrum in ushering the revolutionary GST regime in the country. He made immense contribution to public discourse on various issues from time to time,’ he said.
Naidu said Jaitley was also a recipient of the Best Parliamentarian Award.
‘Outstanding Parliamentarian, legal luminary, towering intellectual, an able administrator & a man of impeccable integrity, Shri Jaitley distinguished himself by effectively handling important portfolios as Union Minister in the cabinets of A. B Vajpayee & Narendra Modi,’ he stated.
Jaitley passed away here at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences this morning. He was 66. “It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of Shri Arun Jaitley, Hon’ble member of Parliament and former finance minister at 1207 hrs on 24th August, 2019,” the hospital confirmed in a statement.He was admitted in AIIMS on August 9 and was being treated by a multidisciplinary team of senior doctors.
(UNI)
