The leaders from Opposition parties were also friends with him. He left an impression even on senior leaders like JP Narayan, says Murli Manohar Joshi
Even as the last rites of former finance minister and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley were performed at the Nigam Bodh Ghat crematorium in the presence of a galaxy of leaders from the political spectrum, tributes and condolences continued to pour in from across the nation and abroad on Sunday.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor even recalled an interesting remark that the BJP leader made that 'India has the same place in International Cricket Council (ICC) as the United States has in United Nations Security Council (UNSC)'.
"I never forgot one of his best lines to me talking about cricket when I was still at UN -- India has the same place in ICC as the US has in UNSC. As a minister, he was very impressive. I thought that asking questions to him in Parliament was always rewarding as he gave you serious answers, precisely expressed," he said.
‘EVEN IN JAIL HE NEVER LOST COOL’
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| Recalling his friendship with former finance minister Arun Jaitley, senior BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra on Sunday said the late leader had left behind innumerable happy memories. Malhotra said, “ I knew him since college days. We also went to jail together twice. Even in jail he never lost cool and tackled the situation with confidence.” |
Stressing that Jaitley was somebody he kept in touch with after leaving for United Nations, he said, "When I came back to India, he was one of the people already in politics who became once again somebody I could maintain very friendly relations with. It was not a political friendship. It was a very pleasant relationship."
Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi too recalled his long association with Jaitley. "I knew Jaitley since his college days when he was the president of DUSU. I knew him for the past 50 years. He was an able party worker. The leaders from Opposition parties were also friends with him. He left an impression even on senior leaders like JP Narayan," Joshi said.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla pays tribute
After paying tributes to Jaitley, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said: "He was a shining star of Indian politics. He had given direction to the polity of the nation through his work. He had given socio-political direction to the polity. His loss is irreparable and for me, it is a personal loss."
Tamil Nadu BJP president Tamilisai Soundararajan on Sunday paid homage to Jaitley and said he could have acquired a position in Modi 2.0 Cabinet but he never gave false hope to the government. "Most of the politicians hide their illness but he never did. He could have acquired a good position in 2019 Cabinet but he did not give any false hopes to the government," Soundararajan said.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar with party leader Praful Patel arrives to pay last respect to former minister Arun Jaitley at his residence (left); Mortal remains of former finance minister being taken to Nigam Bodh Ghat for cremation (right)
Jaitley left an impression on JP Narayan, says Joshi
Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Sunday expressed profound grief over the demise of Arun Jaitley and said that the former finance minister had personal relations with people across the board and was quite popular among the political fraternity. “I knew Jaitley since his college days when he was the president of DUSU. I knew him for the past 50 years. He was an able party worker. The leaders from Opposition parties were also friends with him. He left an impression even on senior leaders like JP Narayan,” he said. “At times, his views differed from us on economics and state issues. But, he used to listen to our views with patience. He also made efforts to take the party forward while he was the spokesperson,” added Joshi.
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