New Delhi : The BJP paid rich tributes to party stalwart Arun Jaitley on his first death anniversary on Monday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that he misses his friend a lot and that his late Cabinet colleague diligently served India.
Top BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and party president J P Nadda, fondly remembered Jaitley, who was the voice of the party on various issues for decades and was seen as its main trouble
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The prime minister tweeted, “On this day, last year, we lost Shri Arun Jaitley Ji. I miss my friend a lot. Arun Ji diligently served India. His wit, intellect, legal acumen and warm personality were legendary. Here is what I had said during a prayer meeting in his memory.”
He posted a video of his speech at the condolence meeting held here for Jaitley last year.
Remembering Jaitley, Shah said he was an outstanding politician, prolific orator and a great human being who had “no parallels” in Indian polity.
He was multifaceted and a friend of friends, who will always be remembered for his towering legacy, transformative vision and devotion to the nation, the former BJP president added.
Nadda said Jaitley’s huge contribution in nation-building will always be remembered.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted, “Remembering Arun Jaitley ji on his punyatithi. Jaitleyji was a stalwart who made a big contribution towards BJP’s growth and rise to power.”
“He made a mark as a successful lawyer, seasoned parliamentarian and effective administrator. I offer my heartfelt tributes to him,” Singh said.
A key BJP leader and a crucial member of the party’s brain trust for decades, Jaitley was an articulate champion of the saffron party’s policies and ideology, and his warm personality and affable manners won him friends across the political spectrum.
He served as the Union finance minister in the first Modi government and wore many hats in public life, from that of a lawyer to a politician and a cricket administrator. He died at 66 years of age last year after battling prolonged illness.
Shah said that ‘he will always be remembered for his towering legacy. Taking to microblogging site Twitter, Shah wrote, ”Remembering Arun Jaitley ji, an outstanding politician, prolific orator and a great human being who had no parallels in Indian polity. He was multifaceted and a friend of friends, who will always be remembered for his towering legacy, transformative vision and devotion to nation.”
Several other politicians like Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways V K Singh, Tripura Chief Minister ?Biplab Kumar Deb, MP B Y Raghavendra paid respect to the leader.
V K Singh said, ”Remembering one of most versatile politicians, Arun Jaitley ji. An exceptional orator, lawyer, who delivered on all responsibilities assigned to him. His contribution will always be remembered.”
Arun Jaitley served as the Minister for Information & Broadcasting in Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government in 1999. He was also the Union Law Minister between 2000-04, Jaitley served.
In 2009, the BJP appointed him as Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. He, along with Sushma Swaraj, were two of the most articulative voices of the party in the Parliament.
Jaitley was a top leader of the Narendra Modi-led government which was formed in 2014. He was entrusted with the crucial Finance portfolio, but also briefly headed the I&B, Corporate Affairs and Defence Ministries.
