Arun Jaitley cremated with full state honours, nation mourns

The last rites of former finance minister and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley, who died at the age of 66 after a prolonged illness on Saturday at New Delhi's AIIMSll India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), were performed at the Nigam Bodh Ghat crematorium in the preence of galaxy of leaders from the political spectrum

NEW DELHI: The last rites of former finance minister and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley, who died at the age of 66 after a prolonged illness on Saturday at New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), were performed at the Nigam Bodh Ghat crematorium in the preence of galaxy of leaders from the political spectrum. His funeral procession was earlier brought from the BJP headquarters to the Nigam Bodh Ghat, where his last rites are being performed.

Jaitley's mortal remains were taken from AIIMS to his residence in Kailash Colony on Saturday where a gamut of political leaders cutting across party lines gathered to pay their tributes to the BJP stalwart. From here, Jaitley's mortal remains were shifted to BJP headquarters around 11 AM on Sunday for party workers and the public to pay their last respects. 

Following the demise of Jaitley, a master strategist and key troubleshooter for Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government, tributes and condolences started pouring within minutes from across the nation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on a foreign tour, in a series of tweets called Jaitley a political stalwart, towering intelligent and a sensible person with a good sense of humour.

Jaitley did not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election, because of his ill-health. In May this year, Jaitley was admitted to AIIMS, Delhi for treatment. He had undergone a renal transplant on May 14 last year at AIIMS with Railways Minister Piyush Goyal filling in for him in the Finance Ministry at that time.

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#Arun Jaitley cremated with full state honours. His son performed the final rites of cremation.

#Arun Jaitley's mortal remains brought to funeral pyre, final rites are being peformed.

#Family of Arun Jaitley arrives at Nigam Bodh ghat.

#BJP veteran LK Advani is also present at the crematorium.

#Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah among top leaders present at Nigam Bodh Ghat.

Delhi: Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, at Nigambodh Ghat. #ArunJaitley pic.twitter.com/uaFwJYyVyX — ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2019

#Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, among others, pay their last respects to the political stalwart.

#Arun Jaitley's mortal remains arrive at Nigam Bodh Ghat for last rites.

# Arun Jaitley Ji was like my eleder brother. My bonding with his family will continue forever: Jawahar Goel, Editor-in-Chief, Zee Media 

# Union Ministers Harsh Vardhan, Piyush Goyal and Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das pay last respects to Arun Jaitley at the BJP headquarters.

Delhi: Union Ministers Harsh Vardhan and Piyush Goyal and Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das pay last respects to Former Union Minister and BJP leader #ArunJaitley at BJP headquarters. pic.twitter.com/oaosUCLbG9 — ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2019

# Arun Jaitley's mortal remains will be kept at the BJP Headquarters for the general public, party leaders and workers to pay their homage to him till 12.45 PM. 

# A sea of supporters outside the BJP Headquarters to pay homage to Arun Jaitley. 

# Baba Ramdev arrives at the BJP office to pay tribute to Arun Jaitley.

# Delhi Police issues traffic advisory, says due to cremation of former FM Arun Jaitley at Nigam Bodh Ghat crematorium, the traffic volume is expected to be heavy on the Ring Road between Indraprasth Flyover and Chandagi Ram Akhara between 1 PM and 5 PM.

# Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Shahnawaz Hussain and Shivraj Singh Chauhan present at the BJP Headquarters. 

# Mortal remains of Arun Jaitley have been kept at the Press Conference Room at the ground floor of BJP head office here. 

# BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya says Arun Jaitley’s demise is a loss not just for the party, but for the nation. Showering praises on the political stalwart, Vijayvargiya said that the country has lost a great leader who always spoke with logic and facts.

#Ahead of that, former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and BJP MP Kirron Kher and BJP leader Ram Madhav also reached Jaitley's residence to pay their last respects to him.

# Top BJP leaders, party workers, friends and family members of Arun Jaitley are accompanying ther military convoy en route to the BJP headquarters. 

# He was a man that many people in Britain treasured, knew well, worked with, valued him for his wisdom, gentleness and humour. He will be much missed: Sir Dominic Asquith, British High Commissioner to India

# Arun Jaitley's mortal remains are being taken to BJP headquarters, his last rites will be held at Nigam Bodh Ghat later today.

Delhi: Mortal remains of Former Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader (BJP) #ArunJaitley being taken to BJP headquarters. pic.twitter.com/kJ1DOFqU4t — ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2019

# Senior Congress leader Motilal Vohra, NCP leaders Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel, RLD leader Ajit Singh and Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu arrive at Arun Jaitley's residence to pay their last respects to him.

Delhi: Senior Congress leader Motilal Vohra, NCP leaders Sharad Pawar & Praful Patel, RLD leader Ajit Singh and Former Andhra Pradesh CM & TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu arrive at the residence of Former Union Minister & BJP leader Arun Jaitley to pay their last respects to him. pic.twitter.com/X0jW3kc67d — ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2019

# Arun Jaitley's mortal remains to be taken to BJP head office in a fully decorated military truck around 9:25 AM.

# Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa will come for Jaitley funeral. Former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Chandrababu Naidu is also coming to Delhi to pay homage to the former finance minister, said reports.

# Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi expressed deep pain at the passing away of Arun Jaitley. She said Jaitley had a long innings as a public figure and his contribution to public life will forever be remembered. READ

# While Haryana has announced a two-day state mourning, the Trivendra Singh-led government in Uttarakhand announced one-day state mourning in honour of the late former Union Finance Minister. 

# JP Nadda, however, added that the timing for the cremation of Jaitley's mortal remains is yet to be decided.

# "From AIIMS, Arun Jaitley's body will be taken to his home in Kailash colony. His body will be kept there till 10 am on Sunday and from there it will be taken to the BJP headquarters for party workers and the public to pay their last respects. His funeral procession will begin from the BJP headquarters to the Nigam Bodh Ghat, where last rites will be performed," JP Nadda said on Saturday.