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Arun Jaitley's Body Kept At His Residence, Last Rites Tomorrow | Updates

Former Union minister and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley died at 66. Leaders from across the political spectrum pay their last respects to him. Arun Jaitley's last rites will be performed tomorrow at Delhi's Nigambodh Ghat.

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Arun Jaitley's Body Kept At His Residence, Last Rites Tomorrow | Updates
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Former Union minister Arun Jaitley died at AIIMS on Saturday, the hospital announced.

Jaitley, 66, was undergoing treatment at the hospital for several weeks.

It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of Arun Jaitley, the AIIMS said in a brief statement.

Arun Jaitley's body is kept at his home in Kailash Colony, New Delhi where leaders across the political spectrum are pouring in to pay their last respects.

His body will remain there till 10 AM Sunday and from there it will be taken to the BJP headquarters for party workers and the public to pay their last respects.

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His cremation will be held tomorrow after 2 PM at Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi.

Below are the updates: 

7:30 PM: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi arrive at Arun Jaitley's residence to pay their last respects to him.

7:15 PM:  Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condoled demise of former finance minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday.

"Arun Jaitley's death has come across as a shock for the entire country. He was a fine politician, a very good orator, a fine legal mind and a good advocate. He contributed a lot to the country. His demise has created a vacuum which will be difficult to fill," Kejriwal said.

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"My own personal relations with him were very good. The public of Delhi will miss him as he belonged to the city. I pray to God that his family members get the strength to tide over this difficult time," he added.

6:50 PM: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman paid tribute to former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley at his residence.

6:00 PM: TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday condoled the demise of Union Minister Arun Jaitley.

"Devastated to learn about the passing away of Arun Jaitley ji. Truly cherish the many years of friendship shared with a humble leader who was also a great statesman. My deepest condolences to his family," tweeted N Chandrababu Naidu.

5:10 PM: President Ram Nath Kovind, reached Arun Jaitley's residence in Greater Kailash, New Delhi to pay tribute to former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

4:57 PM: Lata Mangeshkar paid tributes to Arun Jaitley. In her message, she wrote, "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," 

4:50 PM: In a fitting tribute to Arun Jaitley's camaraderie with opposition leaders, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "Arun Jaitley was every non-BJP person's favourite BJP-ite. Son-in-law of stalwart J&K Congressman, he was amongst the sharpest legal and political brains with a great sense of humour and repartee." 

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"I once referred to him as Bedi+Pras(anna)+Chandra+Venkat for his extraordinary spinning abilities and he enjoyed it hugely. The GST Council may be amongst his most enduring contributions," he added.

4:40 PM: Several leaders on Saturday offered floral tributes to former finance minister Arun Jaitley at his Kailash Colony residence in south Delhi where his body has been kept for last respects. Union ministers Amit Shah, Harsh Vardhan, Jitendra Singh and BJP working president J P Nadda were among those who paid their last respects to Jaitley. 

4:35 PM: Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) acting president CK Khanna on Saturday condoled the death of former finance minister Arun Jaitley.

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"A truly humble, self-made man who rose to greats heights, and has etched a place for himself in the history of modern India, with his genius, grit, charisma and commitment. It is a deep personal loss for me. Our association goes back to our college days in Shri Ram College Of Commerce where we worked together, he as the President, and me as the General Secretary of the College Union," Khanna said. "His contribution in the field of cricket shall be remembered forever. Today the Nation has truly lost a great Statesman and I have personally lost a very dear friend. May his soul find peace," he added.

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4:30 PM: BCCI on Saturday condoled the demise of former finance minister Arun Jaitley who served as a BCCI vice-president and Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) president in the past.

Expressing its grief over the death of the BJP stalwart at the age of 66, the BCCI tweeted, "BCCI condoles the sad demise of Shri Arun Jaitley. The BCCI shares the pain and grief of the Jaitley family and prays for the departed soul."

3:45 PM: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condoled the death of Arun Jaitley saying that he was a great orator and an outstanding parliamentarian. In his condolence letter to Jaitley's wife, Sangeeta Jaitley, Manmohan Singh said, "I have learnt with profound sorrow about the sad and shocking news of the untimely demise of our beloved Arun Jaitley."

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"He was an eminent lawyer, an excellent orator, a very good administrator and an outstanding parliamentarian. In his death the country has lost a great leader who always worked for the betterment of society," he said.

3:36 PM:  Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Saturday said Arun Jaitley was fateful to his ideology till his last breath and the BJP owes him for being what it is today. Condoling the demise of the former Finance Minister, Sibal said, "We have lost someone whom the nation needed for many years." He also tweeted a photograph of Jaitley and him in a cricket ground with a caption, "Together in cricket."

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3:27 PM:  DMK President M.K.Stalin also remembered Arun Jaitley. In a statement issued here Stalin said that Jaitley was arrested and jailed for 19 months under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act during the Emergency for his active participation in the protest led by Jayaprakash Narayan. Stalin also said Jaitley was friendly with members of all the political parties.

3: 17 PM:  Top Congress leaders on Saturday condoled the death of former finance minister Arun Jaitley, with party chief Sonia Gandhi saying his contributions to public life will be remembered forever. Condoling his death, she said Jaitley had a long innings as a public figure, parliamentarian and minister and his contributions to public life will forever be remembered.

Advertisement

3:09 PM: Anurag Thakur, MoS Finance paid tribute to Arun Jaitley with a photograph and said, “India salutes your service.”

3:07 PM: The death of former finance minister Arun Jaitley is a big loss for the nation, the government and the BJP, Union minister and former party president Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday. "I have seen him closely when he started as a student leader of the Vidyarthi Parishad. He was one of the top lawyers in the country who possessed natural argumentative skills," Gadkari told reporters.

3:00 PM:  Prime Minister Narendra  Modi spoke to the wife and son of former finance minister Arun Jaitley to express condolences on the senior BJP leader's demise. During the course of the conversation with the Prime Minister, both the family members insisted that Modi does not cancel his current foreign tour. "Arun Jaitley Ji was a political giant, towering intellectual & 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," Modi's tweet about the conversation read.  

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2:53 PM: Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das said he was deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Arun Jaitley. “No words to describe the sense of grief,” he said in a tweet.  

2:49 PM: Union Minister Piyush Goyal expressed his grief over the passing away of Jaitley and called him an elder brother. “May God grant salvation to his soul and give all of us the strength to bear this immense suffering,” he added.

2:42 PM: Former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will be cremated on Sunday afternoon at the Nigambodh Ghat, BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal said. Jaitley's body will be taken to his Kailash Colony residence after formalities are completed at the AIIMS. On Sunday morning, his body will be taken to the BJP headquarters where leaders across the political spectrum are expected to pay their last respects.

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2:31 PM: Former cricketer Anil Kumble, remember his conversations with Jaitley around cricket and said that he was deeply saddened by the untimely demise of the leader.  

2.19 PM:  Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu expressed condolences on the death of former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and said that his death is an irreparable loss to the nation. "I am deeply shocked to learn about the demise of Shri Arun Jaitley, a long time dear friend and one of my closest associates. His death is an irreparable loss to the nation and a personal loss to me. I have no words to express my grief," Naidu tweeted.

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2.18 PM:  Jaitley's 'sound legal advise' was trusted across political divide, said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. "It is a great loss for the nation, the Indian polity and the legal fraternity," Mehta told PTI, condoling the former Union Minister's demise. The Solicitor General said Jaitley always left a lasting imprint on anyone he came in touch with and as a senior advocate, guided his political and professional colleagues with mature legal advice and "stood by them during the most adverse circumstances".

2:10 PM: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday expressed his condolences over the death of former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.  "Deeply saddened by the demise of former Finance Minister & senior BJP leader Shri Arun Jaitley ji. A politician with stellar intellect who was respected by all. Under his tenure as FM the nation has seen successful rollout of landmark economic reforms," Sawant said in a tweet.

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2:06 PM: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also expressed his grief over Arun Jaitley’s demise. "Sad to hear that former Union Minister Arun Jaitley ji has passed away. My thoughts are with his family in this time of grief. May his soul rest in peace," Singh tweeted.

1:57 PM: Leaders across the political spectrum paid rich tributes to the departed leader. "Deeply saddened by the tragic passing of my friend and Delhi University senior", Congress leader Shashi Tharoor wrote on Twitter. “We first met when he was at DUSU & I was President of St Stephen’s CollegeUnion. Despite political differences we enjoyed a healthy mutual respect & debated his Budget often in LS. A great loss4India,” Tharoor said. 

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1:55 PM:  Remembering Jaitley as a ‘mentor, a guide and a moral support’, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that there were no words to describe the loss. She added that she had learnt a lot from him.

1:50 PM:  Meanwhile, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday cancelled his visit to Nellore in Andhra Pradesh and is scheduled to rush to Delhi in view of former minister Arun Jaitley's death. No sooner than Naidu boarded a chopper to go to Nellore, about 170 km from here by 12.20 pm, the message on Jaitley's death was conveyed to him and the helicopter. The Vice President then headed to nearby Raj Bhavan and he is scheduled to take a flight to Delhi soon.

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1:45 PM: Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa termed Jaitley’s demise an insurmountable loss to the country.  “I am saddened to hear the demise of Sri @arunjaitley, the senior leader and former Union minister who worked hard to make a significant change in the economic reform of the country as the Finance Minister. It is an insurmountable loss to the country. May his soul rest in peace,” Yediyurappa tweeted.

1: 40 PM:  Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed his condolences to Jaitley’s family members. “Deeply saddened to know of untimely demise of former Union minister and senior BJP leader, Sh #ArunJaitley. My heartfelt condolences to his family members. May God give them strength. May his soul rest in peace,” Gehlot wrote on Twitter.

Advertisement

1:35 PM : Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley, who died on Saturday. “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,” PM Modi said. In a series of tweets, Modi said BJP and Jaitley had an "unbreakable bond."

1:30 PM: Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma  said that it was moment of immense pain and called Jaitley a great administrator and a wonderful human being.  "One of modern India's tallest architects, an accomplished lawyer, outstanding Parliamentarian, great administrator and wonderful human being - Sri Arun Jaitley is no more with us. It is a moment of intense pain, as I bow down in reverence of the departed soul," Sarma tweeted. 

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1:26 PM:  Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also expressed  his sadness over Jaitley’s demise and remembered him as an experienced political leader known for his governance skills. “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,” CM Kejriwal tweeted.

1:19 PM:  President Ram Nath Kovind expressed his grief over Jaitley’s demise and hailed his contribution to the country. “Extremely saddened by the passing of Shri Arun Jaitley after battling a long illness with fortitude and dignity. A brilliant lawyer, a seasoned parliamentarian, and a distinguished Minister, he contributed immensely to nation building,” President Kovind said in a tweet.

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 1:12pm: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee  expressed sadness, said Jaitley was a politician who was "appreciated across parties".

"Extremely saddened at the passing away of Arun Jaitley Ji, after a battle bravely borne. An outstanding Parliamentarian & a brilliant lawyer, appreciated across parties. His contribution to Indian polity will be remembered. My condolences to his wife, children, friends & admirers," Banerjee said in a statement.

1:05pm: Union Minister Smriti Irani expresses condolences on Jaitley's demise. "A stalwart who paid tribute to his simple beginnings by helping those with meagre means . Orator par excellence, legal luminary Arun Jaitley ji served the Nation and sangathan with dedication and zeal." she wrote on Twitter.

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1:00pm: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, "Arun Jaitley ji served the nation in several  capacities and he was an asset to the government and the party organisation.  He always had a deep and clear understanding of the issues of the day. His knowledge and articulation won him several friends."

Former Union minister Arun Jaitley died at AIIMS on Saturday, the hospital announced.

Jaitley, 66, was undergoing treatment at the hospital for several weeks.

It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of Arun Jaitley, the AIIMS said in a brief statement.

Arun Jaitley's body is kept at his home in Kailash Colony, New Delhi where leaders across the political spectrum are pouring in to pay their last respects.

Advertisement

His body will remain there till 10 AM Sunday and from there it will be taken to the BJP headquarters for party workers and the public to pay their last respects.

His cremation will be held tomorrow after 2 PM at Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi.

Below are the updates: 

7:30 PM: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi arrive at Arun Jaitley's residence to pay their last respects to him.

7:15 PM:  Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condoled demise of former finance minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday.

"Arun Jaitley's death has come across as a shock for the entire country. He was a fine politician, a very good orator, a fine legal mind and a good advocate. He contributed a lot to the country. His demise has created a vacuum which will be difficult to fill," Kejriwal said.

Advertisement

"My own personal relations with him were very good. The public of Delhi will miss him as he belonged to the city. I pray to God that his family members get the strength to tide over this difficult time," he added.

6:50 PM: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman paid tribute to former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley at his residence.

6:00 PM: TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday condoled the demise of Union Minister Arun Jaitley.

"Devastated to learn about the passing away of Arun Jaitley ji. Truly cherish the many years of friendship shared with a humble leader who was also a great statesman. My deepest condolences to his family," tweeted N Chandrababu Naidu.

Advertisement

5:10 PM: President Ram Nath Kovind, reached Arun Jaitley's residence in Greater Kailash, New Delhi to pay tribute to former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

4:57 PM: Lata Mangeshkar paid tributes to Arun Jaitley. In her message, she wrote, "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," 

4:50 PM: In a fitting tribute to Arun Jaitley's camaraderie with opposition leaders, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "Arun Jaitley was every non-BJP person's favourite BJP-ite. Son-in-law of stalwart J&K Congressman, he was amongst the sharpest legal and political brains with a great sense of humour and repartee." 

Advertisement

"I once referred to him as Bedi+Pras(anna)+Chandra+Venkat for his extraordinary spinning abilities and he enjoyed it hugely. The GST Council may be amongst his most enduring contributions," he added.

4:40 PM: Several leaders on Saturday offered floral tributes to former finance minister Arun Jaitley at his Kailash Colony residence in south Delhi where his body has been kept for last respects. Union ministers Amit Shah, Harsh Vardhan, Jitendra Singh and BJP working president J P Nadda were among those who paid their last respects to Jaitley. 

4:35 PM: Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) acting president CK Khanna on Saturday condoled the death of former finance minister Arun Jaitley.

Advertisement

"A truly humble, self-made man who rose to greats heights, and has etched a place for himself in the history of modern India, with his genius, grit, charisma and commitment. It is a deep personal loss for me. Our association goes back to our college days in Shri Ram College Of Commerce where we worked together, he as the President, and me as the General Secretary of the College Union," Khanna said. "His contribution in the field of cricket shall be remembered forever. Today the Nation has truly lost a great Statesman and I have personally lost a very dear friend. May his soul find peace," he added.

Advertisement

4:30 PM: BCCI on Saturday condoled the demise of former finance minister Arun Jaitley who served as a BCCI vice-president and Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) president in the past.

Expressing its grief over the death of the BJP stalwart at the age of 66, the BCCI tweeted, "BCCI condoles the sad demise of Shri Arun Jaitley. The BCCI shares the pain and grief of the Jaitley family and prays for the departed soul."

3:45 PM: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condoled the death of Arun Jaitley saying that he was a great orator and an outstanding parliamentarian. In his condolence letter to Jaitley's wife, Sangeeta Jaitley, Manmohan Singh said, "I have learnt with profound sorrow about the sad and shocking news of the untimely demise of our beloved Arun Jaitley."

Advertisement

"He was an eminent lawyer, an excellent orator, a very good administrator and an outstanding parliamentarian. In his death the country has lost a great leader who always worked for the betterment of society," he said.

3:36 PM:  Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Saturday said Arun Jaitley was fateful to his ideology till his last breath and the BJP owes him for being what it is today. Condoling the demise of the former Finance Minister, Sibal said, "We have lost someone whom the nation needed for many years." He also tweeted a photograph of Jaitley and him in a cricket ground with a caption, "Together in cricket."

Advertisement

3:27 PM:  DMK President M.K.Stalin also remembered Arun Jaitley. In a statement issued here Stalin said that Jaitley was arrested and jailed for 19 months under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act during the Emergency for his active participation in the protest led by Jayaprakash Narayan. Stalin also said Jaitley was friendly with members of all the political parties.

3: 17 PM:  Top Congress leaders on Saturday condoled the death of former finance minister Arun Jaitley, with party chief Sonia Gandhi saying his contributions to public life will be remembered forever. Condoling his death, she said Jaitley had a long innings as a public figure, parliamentarian and minister and his contributions to public life will forever be remembered.

Advertisement

3:09 PM: Anurag Thakur, MoS Finance paid tribute to Arun Jaitley with a photograph and said, “India salutes your service.”

3:07 PM: The death of former finance minister Arun Jaitley is a big loss for the nation, the government and the BJP, Union minister and former party president Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday. "I have seen him closely when he started as a student leader of the Vidyarthi Parishad. He was one of the top lawyers in the country who possessed natural argumentative skills," Gadkari told reporters.

3:00 PM:  Prime Minister Narendra  Modi spoke to the wife and son of former finance minister Arun Jaitley to express condolences on the senior BJP leader's demise. During the course of the conversation with the Prime Minister, both the family members insisted that Modi does not cancel his current foreign tour. "Arun Jaitley Ji was a political giant, towering intellectual & 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," Modi's tweet about the conversation read.  

Advertisement

2:53 PM: Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das said he was deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Arun Jaitley. “No words to describe the sense of grief,” he said in a tweet.  

2:49 PM: Union Minister Piyush Goyal expressed his grief over the passing away of Jaitley and called him an elder brother. “May God grant salvation to his soul and give all of us the strength to bear this immense suffering,” he added.

2:42 PM: Former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will be cremated on Sunday afternoon at the Nigambodh Ghat, BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal said. Jaitley's body will be taken to his Kailash Colony residence after formalities are completed at the AIIMS. On Sunday morning, his body will be taken to the BJP headquarters where leaders across the political spectrum are expected to pay their last respects.

Advertisement

2:31 PM: Former cricketer Anil Kumble, remember his conversations with Jaitley around cricket and said that he was deeply saddened by the untimely demise of the leader.  

2.19 PM:  Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu expressed condolences on the death of former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and said that his death is an irreparable loss to the nation. "I am deeply shocked to learn about the demise of Shri Arun Jaitley, a long time dear friend and one of my closest associates. His death is an irreparable loss to the nation and a personal loss to me. I have no words to express my grief," Naidu tweeted.

Advertisement

2.18 PM:  Jaitley's 'sound legal advise' was trusted across political divide, said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. "It is a great loss for the nation, the Indian polity and the legal fraternity," Mehta told PTI, condoling the former Union Minister's demise. The Solicitor General said Jaitley always left a lasting imprint on anyone he came in touch with and as a senior advocate, guided his political and professional colleagues with mature legal advice and "stood by them during the most adverse circumstances".

2:10 PM: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday expressed his condolences over the death of former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.  "Deeply saddened by the demise of former Finance Minister & senior BJP leader Shri Arun Jaitley ji. A politician with stellar intellect who was respected by all. Under his tenure as FM the nation has seen successful rollout of landmark economic reforms," Sawant said in a tweet.

Advertisement

2:06 PM: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also expressed his grief over Arun Jaitley’s demise. "Sad to hear that former Union Minister Arun Jaitley ji has passed away. My thoughts are with his family in this time of grief. May his soul rest in peace," Singh tweeted.

1:57 PM: Leaders across the political spectrum paid rich tributes to the departed leader. "Deeply saddened by the tragic passing of my friend and Delhi University senior", Congress leader Shashi Tharoor wrote on Twitter. “We first met when he was at DUSU & I was President of St Stephen’s CollegeUnion. Despite political differences we enjoyed a healthy mutual respect & debated his Budget often in LS. A great loss4India,” Tharoor said. 

Advertisement

1:55 PM:  Remembering Jaitley as a ‘mentor, a guide and a moral support’, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that there were no words to describe the loss. She added that she had learnt a lot from him.

1:50 PM:  Meanwhile, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday cancelled his visit to Nellore in Andhra Pradesh and is scheduled to rush to Delhi in view of former minister Arun Jaitley's death. No sooner than Naidu boarded a chopper to go to Nellore, about 170 km from here by 12.20 pm, the message on Jaitley's death was conveyed to him and the helicopter. The Vice President then headed to nearby Raj Bhavan and he is scheduled to take a flight to Delhi soon.

Advertisement

1:45 PM: Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa termed Jaitley’s demise an insurmountable loss to the country.  “I am saddened to hear the demise of Sri @arunjaitley, the senior leader and former Union minister who worked hard to make a significant change in the economic reform of the country as the Finance Minister. It is an insurmountable loss to the country. May his soul rest in peace,” Yediyurappa tweeted.

1: 40 PM:  Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed his condolences to Jaitley’s family members. “Deeply saddened to know of untimely demise of former Union minister and senior BJP leader, Sh #ArunJaitley. My heartfelt condolences to his family members. May God give them strength. May his soul rest in peace,” Gehlot wrote on Twitter.

Advertisement

1:35 PM : Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley, who died on Saturday. “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,” PM Modi said. In a series of tweets, Modi said BJP and Jaitley had an "unbreakable bond."

1:30 PM: Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma  said that it was moment of immense pain and called Jaitley a great administrator and a wonderful human being.  "One of modern India's tallest architects, an accomplished lawyer, outstanding Parliamentarian, great administrator and wonderful human being - Sri Arun Jaitley is no more with us. It is a moment of intense pain, as I bow down in reverence of the departed soul," Sarma tweeted. 

Advertisement

1:26 PM:  Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also expressed  his sadness over Jaitley’s demise and remembered him as an experienced political leader known for his governance skills. “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,” CM Kejriwal tweeted.

Former Union minister Arun Jaitley died at AIIMS on Saturday, the hospital announced.

Jaitley, 66, was undergoing treatment at the hospital for several weeks.

Advertisement

It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of Arun Jaitley, the AIIMS said in a brief statement.

Arun Jaitley's body is kept at his home in Kailash Colony, New Delhi where leaders across the political spectrum are pouring in to pay their last respects.

His body will remain there till 10 AM Sunday and from there it will be taken to the BJP headquarters for party workers and the public to pay their last respects.

His cremation will be held tomorrow after 2 PM at Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi.

Below are the updates: 

7:30 PM: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi arrive at Arun Jaitley's residence to pay their last respects to him.

Advertisement

7:15 PM:  Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condoled demise of former finance minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday.

"Arun Jaitley's death has come across as a shock for the entire country. He was a fine politician, a very good orator, a fine legal mind and a good advocate. He contributed a lot to the country. His demise has created a vacuum which will be difficult to fill," Kejriwal said.

"My own personal relations with him were very good. The public of Delhi will miss him as he belonged to the city. I pray to God that his family members get the strength to tide over this difficult time," he added.

Advertisement

6:50 PM: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman paid tribute to former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley at his residence.

6:00 PM: TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday condoled the demise of Union Minister Arun Jaitley.

"Devastated to learn about the passing away of Arun Jaitley ji. Truly cherish the many years of friendship shared with a humble leader who was also a great statesman. My deepest condolences to his family," tweeted N Chandrababu Naidu.

5:10 PM: President Ram Nath Kovind, reached Arun Jaitley's residence in Greater Kailash, New Delhi to pay tribute to former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

4:57 PM: Lata Mangeshkar paid tributes to Arun Jaitley. In her message, she wrote, "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," 

Advertisement

4:50 PM: In a fitting tribute to Arun Jaitley's camaraderie with opposition leaders, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "Arun Jaitley was every non-BJP person's favourite BJP-ite. Son-in-law of stalwart J&K Congressman, he was amongst the sharpest legal and political brains with a great sense of humour and repartee." 

"I once referred to him as Bedi+Pras(anna)+Chandra+Venkat for his extraordinary spinning abilities and he enjoyed it hugely. The GST Council may be amongst his most enduring contributions," he added.

4:40 PM: Several leaders on Saturday offered floral tributes to former finance minister Arun Jaitley at his Kailash Colony residence in south Delhi where his body has been kept for last respects. Union ministers Amit Shah, Harsh Vardhan, Jitendra Singh and BJP working president J P Nadda were among those who paid their last respects to Jaitley. 

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4:35 PM: Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) acting president CK Khanna on Saturday condoled the death of former finance minister Arun Jaitley.

"A truly humble, self-made man who rose to greats heights, and has etched a place for himself in the history of modern India, with his genius, grit, charisma and commitment. It is a deep personal loss for me. Our association goes back to our college days in Shri Ram College Of Commerce where we worked together, he as the President, and me as the General Secretary of the College Union," Khanna said. "His contribution in the field of cricket shall be remembered forever. Today the Nation has truly lost a great Statesman and I have personally lost a very dear friend. May his soul find peace," he added.

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4:30 PM: BCCI on Saturday condoled the demise of former finance minister Arun Jaitley who served as a BCCI vice-president and Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) president in the past.

Expressing its grief over the death of the BJP stalwart at the age of 66, the BCCI tweeted, "BCCI condoles the sad demise of Shri Arun Jaitley. The BCCI shares the pain and grief of the Jaitley family and prays for the departed soul."

3:45 PM: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condoled the death of Arun Jaitley saying that he was a great orator and an outstanding parliamentarian. In his condolence letter to Jaitley's wife, Sangeeta Jaitley, Manmohan Singh said, "I have learnt with profound sorrow about the sad and shocking news of the untimely demise of our beloved Arun Jaitley."

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"He was an eminent lawyer, an excellent orator, a very good administrator and an outstanding parliamentarian. In his death the country has lost a great leader who always worked for the betterment of society," he said.

3:36 PM:  Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Saturday said Arun Jaitley was fateful to his ideology till his last breath and the BJP owes him for being what it is today. Condoling the demise of the former Finance Minister, Sibal said, "We have lost someone whom the nation needed for many years." He also tweeted a photograph of Jaitley and him in a cricket ground with a caption, "Together in cricket."

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3:27 PM:  DMK President M.K.Stalin also remembered Arun Jaitley. In a statement issued here Stalin said that Jaitley was arrested and jailed for 19 months under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act during the Emergency for his active participation in the protest led by Jayaprakash Narayan. Stalin also said Jaitley was friendly with members of all the political parties.

3: 17 PM:  Top Congress leaders on Saturday condoled the death of former finance minister Arun Jaitley, with party chief Sonia Gandhi saying his contributions to public life will be remembered forever. Condoling his death, she said Jaitley had a long innings as a public figure, parliamentarian and minister and his contributions to public life will forever be remembered.

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3:09 PM: Anurag Thakur, MoS Finance paid tribute to Arun Jaitley with a photograph and said, “India salutes your service.”

3:07 PM: The death of former finance minister Arun Jaitley is a big loss for the nation, the government and the BJP, Union minister and former party president Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday. "I have seen him closely when he started as a student leader of the Vidyarthi Parishad. He was one of the top lawyers in the country who possessed natural argumentative skills," Gadkari told reporters.

3:00 PM:  Prime Minister Narendra  Modi spoke to the wife and son of former finance minister Arun Jaitley to express condolences on the senior BJP leader's demise. During the course of the conversation with the Prime Minister, both the family members insisted that Modi does not cancel his current foreign tour. "Arun Jaitley Ji was a political giant, towering intellectual & 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," Modi's tweet about the conversation read.  

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2:53 PM: Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das said he was deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Arun Jaitley. “No words to describe the sense of grief,” he said in a tweet.  

2:49 PM: Union Minister Piyush Goyal expressed his grief over the passing away of Jaitley and called him an elder brother. “May God grant salvation to his soul and give all of us the strength to bear this immense suffering,” he added.

2:42 PM: Former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will be cremated on Sunday afternoon at the Nigambodh Ghat, BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal said. Jaitley's body will be taken to his Kailash Colony residence after formalities are completed at the AIIMS. On Sunday morning, his body will be taken to the BJP headquarters where leaders across the political spectrum are expected to pay their last respects.

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2:31 PM: Former cricketer Anil Kumble, remember his conversations with Jaitley around cricket and said that he was deeply saddened by the untimely demise of the leader.  

2.19 PM:  Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu expressed condolences on the death of former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and said that his death is an irreparable loss to the nation. "I am deeply shocked to learn about the demise of Shri Arun Jaitley, a long time dear friend and one of my closest associates. His death is an irreparable loss to the nation and a personal loss to me. I have no words to express my grief," Naidu tweeted.

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2.18 PM:  Jaitley's 'sound legal advise' was trusted across political divide, said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. "It is a great loss for the nation, the Indian polity and the legal fraternity," Mehta told PTI, condoling the former Union Minister's demise. The Solicitor General said Jaitley always left a lasting imprint on anyone he came in touch with and as a senior advocate, guided his political and professional colleagues with mature legal advice and "stood by them during the most adverse circumstances".

2:10 PM: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday expressed his condolences over the death of former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.  "Deeply saddened by the demise of former Finance Minister & senior BJP leader Shri Arun Jaitley ji. A politician with stellar intellect who was respected by all. Under his tenure as FM the nation has seen successful rollout of landmark economic reforms," Sawant said in a tweet.

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2:06 PM: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also expressed his grief over Arun Jaitley’s demise. "Sad to hear that former Union Minister Arun Jaitley ji has passed away. My thoughts are with his family in this time of grief. May his soul rest in peace," Singh tweeted.

1:57 PM: Leaders across the political spectrum paid rich tributes to the departed leader. "Deeply saddened by the tragic passing of my friend and Delhi University senior", Congress leader Shashi Tharoor wrote on Twitter. “We first met when he was at DUSU & I was President of St Stephen’s CollegeUnion. Despite political differences we enjoyed a healthy mutual respect & debated his Budget often in LS. A great loss4India,” Tharoor said. 

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1:55 PM:  Remembering Jaitley as a ‘mentor, a guide and a moral support’, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that there were no words to describe the loss. She added that she had learnt a lot from him.

1:50 PM:  Meanwhile, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday cancelled his visit to Nellore in Andhra Pradesh and is scheduled to rush to Delhi in view of former minister Arun Jaitley's death. No sooner than Naidu boarded a chopper to go to Nellore, about 170 km from here by 12.20 pm, the message on Jaitley's death was conveyed to him and the helicopter. The Vice President then headed to nearby Raj Bhavan and he is scheduled to take a flight to Delhi soon.

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1:45 PM: Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa termed Jaitley’s demise an insurmountable loss to the country.  “I am saddened to hear the demise of Sri @arunjaitley, the senior leader and former Union minister who worked hard to make a significant change in the economic reform of the country as the Finance Minister. It is an insurmountable loss to the country. May his soul rest in peace,” Yediyurappa tweeted.

1: 40 PM:  Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed his condolences to Jaitley’s family members. “Deeply saddened to know of untimely demise of former Union minister and senior BJP leader, Sh #ArunJaitley. My heartfelt condolences to his family members. May God give them strength. May his soul rest in peace,” Gehlot wrote on Twitter.

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1:35 PM : Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley, who died on Saturday. “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,” PM Modi said. In a series of tweets, Modi said BJP and Jaitley had an "unbreakable bond."

1:30 PM: Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma  said that it was moment of immense pain and called Jaitley a great administrator and a wonderful human being.  "One of modern India's tallest architects, an accomplished lawyer, outstanding Parliamentarian, great administrator and wonderful human being - Sri Arun Jaitley is no more with us. It is a moment of intense pain, as I bow down in reverence of the departed soul," Sarma tweeted. 

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1:26 PM:  Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also expressed  his sadness over Jaitley’s demise and remembered him as an experienced political leader known for his governance skills. “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,” CM Kejriwal tweeted.

1:19 PM:  President Ram Nath Kovind expressed his grief over Jaitley’s demise and hailed his contribution to the country. “Extremely saddened by the passing of Shri Arun Jaitley after battling a long illness with fortitude and dignity. A brilliant lawyer, a seasoned parliamentarian, and a distinguished Minister, he contributed immensely to nation building,” President Kovind said in a tweet.

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 1:12pm: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee  expressed sadness, said Jaitley was a politician who was "appreciated across parties".

"Extremely saddened at the passing away of Arun Jaitley Ji, after a battle bravely borne. An outstanding Parliamentarian & a brilliant lawyer, appreciated across parties. His contribution to Indian polity will be remembered. My condolences to his wife, children, friends & admirers," Banerjee said in a statement.

1:05pm: Union Minister Smriti Irani expresses condolences on Jaitley's demise. "A stalwart who paid tribute to his simple beginnings by helping those with meagre means . Orator par excellence, legal luminary Arun Jaitley ji served the Nation and sangathan with dedication and zeal." she wrote on Twitter.

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1:00pm: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, "Arun Jaitley ji served the nation in several  capacities and he was an asset to the government and the party organisation.  He always had a deep and clear understanding of the issues of the day. His knowledge and articulation won him several friends."

1:19 PM:  President Ram Nath Kovind expressed his grief over Jaitley’s demise and hailed his contribution to the country. “Extremely saddened by the passing of Shri Arun Jaitley after battling a long illness with fortitude and dignity. A brilliant lawyer, a seasoned parliamentarian, and a distinguished Minister, he contributed immensely to nation building,” President Kovind said in a tweet.

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 1:12pm: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee  expressed sadness, said Jaitley was a politician who was "appreciated across parties".

"Extremely saddened at the passing away of Arun Jaitley Ji, after a battle bravely borne. An outstanding Parliamentarian & a brilliant lawyer, appreciated across parties. His contribution to Indian polity will be remembered. My condolences to his wife, children, friends & admirers," Banerjee said in a statement.

1:05pm: Union Minister Smriti Irani expresses condolences on Jaitley's demise. "A stalwart who paid tribute to his simple beginnings by helping those with meagre means . Orator par excellence, legal luminary Arun Jaitley ji served the Nation and sangathan with dedication and zeal." she wrote on Twitter.

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1:00pm: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, "Arun Jaitley ji served the nation in several  capacities and he was an asset to the government and the party organisation.  He always had a deep and clear understanding of the issues of the day. His knowledge and articulation won him several friends."

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