Former finance and defence minister Arun Jaitley passed away at the age of 66. He was admitted to New Delhi’s AIIMS on August 9 after he complained of chest pain and breathlessness. His funeral is expected to take place on Sunday (August 25).
New Delhi: Former finance minister Arun Jaitley breathed his last at New Delhi’s AIIMS hospital where he had been admitted to since August 9. Jaitley’s funeral is expected to take place on August 25 (Sunday).
Several BJP leaders condoled the demise of Arun Jaitley and leaders across party lines visited his family members to pay their respects.
In a brief statement, AIIMS said that Arun Jaitley died 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.
The veteran BJP leader, who was brought in to the hospital on August 9, was on life support and was being monitored by a multidisciplinary team of doctors.
Jaitley's mortal remains were taken to his home and the funeral will be held tomorrow at Nigambodh Ghat. Jaitley’s body will be kept at the BJP office till 2pm before the cremation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in the UAE, took to Twitter to say that 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 (sic)," PM Modi tweeted.
The film fraternity reacted to the demise of former finance minister Arun Jaitley and said, “A strong and a visionary leader who went too soon.”
Industry veterans Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, actors Ajay Devgn and filmmaker Karan Johar paid tributes for Jaitley on Twitter.
Read Exclusive COVID-19 Coronavirus News updates, at MyNation.