New Delhi
Former Union minister Arun Jaitley, who passed away on Saturday afternoon after a prolonged illness, will be cremated at the Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi on Sunday. The senior BJP leader was 66. Jaitley’s mortal remains will be taken to the BJP headquarters on Sunday for people to pay their last respects.
Prime minister Narendra Modi, who is in the UAE on an official tour, said that he has lost a valued friend, whom he had known 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!” Modi said in a series of tweets.
Jaitley was admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi on August 9 after he complained of breathlessness and restlessness. In a statement issued, AIIMS said that Jaitley breathed his last at 12:07 PM. “It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of Shri Arun Jaitley, honourable Member of Parliament and former Finance minister, Government of India, at 12:07 PM on 24th August, 2019,” the hospital said in a statement.
Mr Jaitley’s health issues became worse after he had a kidney transplant in May last year. He did not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election presumably because of his ill-health.
