PM Modi meets Arun Jaitley’s family after returning from G7 summit

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Aug 27, 2019: PM Narendra Modi visited the residence of former finance minister Arun Jaitley today to pay tributes to the BJP leader, Yahoo reported.

 

Arun Jaitley, 66, passed away after prolonged illness at Delhi’s AIIMS hospital on August 24. He was admitted to AIIMS on August 9 after he complained of breathlessness and was put on life support. He was cremated at Nigambodh Ghat on August 25.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday morning returned to New Delhi after completing his three-nation visit to France, Bahrain, and the UAE.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in Bahrain when the former Union minister passed away, had recalled his association with Jaitley. Arun Jaitley’s family had reportedly requested Prime Minister Modi to continue his visit to France, UAE, and Bahrain.

Earlier on Tuesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had met the family of Arun Jaitley. Amit Shah was also present when PM Modi met Arun Jaitley’s family.

PM Modi’s emotional tribute

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier paid an emotional tribute to Arun Jaitley, saying he cannot imagine that he was far away from India in Bahrain while his "dear friend" and party colleague passed away in New Delhi.

"My friend Arun Jaitley loved India, loved his party and loved being among people. It is upsetting and unbelievable that a person I have known since our youth is no longer in our midst," Prime Minister Modi said in a tweet.

"I cannot imagine that I am here in Bahrain while my dear friend Arun Jaitley is no more," Modi said while addressing a huge gathering of 15,000 members from the Indian community at the Bahrain National Stadium.

Modi described Jaitley as a "valued friend" whose insights and nuanced understanding of matters had "very few parallels" as he condoled the death of the senior BJP leader who was one of his close confidants for decades.

The prime minister had also spoken to Arun Jaitley’s wife and son on Saturday and expressed his condolences. Both of them insisted that he does not cancel his foreign tour.

On Twitter, Modi said Jaitley was admired by people across all sections of society, adding that he was multi-faceted, had impeccable knowledge about India’s Constitution, history, public policy, governance, and administration.

"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!" he said.