Arun Jaitley, the former finance minister and a loyal member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, passed away on Saturday at 12:07 pm. He died out of multiple organ failure at Delhi’s AIIMS. He was 66.
Arun Jaitley’s Health Issues:
His health condition was not well for the significant part of the last two years. Due to his health conditions, he decided not to join the Modi Cabinet in 2019. In 2018, Arun Jaitley underwent kidney transplant surgery and was put under isolation. Back, in 2014, Arun Jaitley endured bariatric surgery to treat the excess weight he had gained due to diabetes.
Early Life:
Arun Jaitley was born on 28 December 1952 at New Delhi. He completed his bachelors in commerce. Born as the son of a lawyer, he chooses to follow the same path. In 1977 he cleared the LLB degree from the University of Delhi.
Arun Jaitley was an active member of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) since his college days. During the period of Internal Emergency (1975–77) he was under preventive detention for 19 months along with other leaders. He was always seen at the forefront when it comes to fighting against unlawful practices followed in the country.
In 1977, being the convener of the Loktantric Yuva Morcha when the Congress suffered defeat, Jaitley was appointed the president of the Delhi ABVP and All India Secretary of the ABVP. Shortly after joining the party he was then made the president of the youth wing of the BJP and the secretary of the Delhi Unit in 1980.
His career as a Lawyer:
Since 1987 he was practising law before the Supreme court of India as well as at the Delhi High court. In January 1990 he was designated as the Senior Advocate by the Delhi High Court. Arun Jaitley has presented a paper before the Indo-British Legal Forum on law correlating to corruption and crime in India.
He was a representative on behalf of the Government of India at the United Nations General Assembly Session on June 1998. In the session, the laws relating to drugs and money laundering were enacted. Given his political duties as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Jaitley stopped practising law in June 2009.
Arun Jaitely has been part of BJP since 1991 as a national executive member. He was chosen as the spokesperson of the BJP during the period heading the 1999 general election. He also served in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee cabinet.
As finance minister, Arun Jaitley presented all of the NDA 1.0’s budgets. However, due to his ill health, he was unable to present the 2019 Interim Budget, which was instead presented by his colleague Piyush Goyal.
Tweets from across various fields and from the oppositions:
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
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. pic.twitter.com/7Tk5pf9edw
— Congress (@INCIndia) August 24, 2019
Untimely demise of former FM and senior leader Sh Arun Jaitley ji is a huge loss to the nation. A legal luminary and an experienced political leader known for his governance skills will be missed by the country. Thoughts and prayers with his family in this moment of grief. RIP
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 24, 2019
Deeply saddened by the sad demise of Arun Jaitley ji.
A dynamic leader, a thorough gentleman and our former Finance Minister. Very kindly, he had come over to meet me and we spoke for a long time. Will cherish those memories. Heartfelt condolences to the family. pic.twitter.com/DIhrkgnKms— Lata Mangeshkar (@mangeshkarlata) August 24, 2019
Pained at the passing away of #ArunJaitley ji. Apart from having served greatly in public life , he played a huge role in many players from Delhi getting an opportunity to represent India. There was a time when not many players from Delhi got a chance at the highest level ..cont
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 24, 2019
Arun Jaitley’s body was taken to his home in Kailash colony South Delhi, from AIIMS on Saturday evening. His body will be taken to the BJP headquarters for party members and the public to pay their last respects. His funeral procession will begin from the BJP headquarters to the Nigam Bodh Ghat, where he will be laid to rest.
