'Arun Jaitley's contribution to public life will be remembered'

Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi said that Jaitley had a long innings as a public figure, Parliamentarian and Minister and his contributions to public life will forever be remembered

On Saturday, Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi condoled the death of former Finance Minister and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley. While expressing her grief and extending her condolence to his family, Sonia said that Jaitley's contribution to public life will forever be remembered.

#Congress interim President #SoniaGandhi on August 24 condoled the death of former #FinanceMinister and senior #BJP leader #ArunJaitley saying his contribution to public life will forever be remembered.

Photo: IANS pic.twitter.com/kURZD5Xj4b

— IANS Tweets (@ians_india) August 24, 2019

In an official statement, Sonia Gandhi expressed deep pain and distress at the untimely passing away of Jaitley. Paying homage to the late BJP leader, Gandhi said that Jaitley had a long innings as a public figure, Parliamentarian and Minister and his contributions to public life will forever be remembered.

Also Read: Arun Jaitley passes away: Will miss discussion on politics and cricket, says Foreign Minister

Former Finance Minister and veteran BJP leader Arun Jaitley passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He was 66 and is survived by his wife and son. Earlier in this month, Jaitley was admitted to the AIIMS and was placed under observation at the hospital's Cardio-Neuro-Centre.

A lawyer by profession, Jaitley had been an important leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party and held the Finance Ministry post in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet during his first tenure. from 2014 to 2019. Recently, Jaitley had opted out of contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha elections earlier this year owing to health reasons.

Jaitley had also stopped attending office since early April 2018 after he underwent a renal transplant in May 2018 but was later back in the finance ministry on August 23, 2018. The 66-year-old politician also served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha from 2009-2014. Besides being a politician, Jaitley was also a senior advocate at the Supreme Court.

With inputs from IANS

Also Read: Arun Jaitley passes away: Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia pay tribute

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