Arun Jaitley Funeral Highlights: Mortal Remains Of Former Union Minister Cremated With Full State Honours

Background

New Delhi: Former finance minister Arun Jaitley passed away at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi on Saturday after prolonged illness at the age of 66.

Jaitley breathed his last at 12:07 pm at the hospital where he was admitted since August 9.

Jaitley was in a critical condition at AIIMS since 15 days and several BJP and opposition leaders had been paying visit to enquire about his health since the day he was admitted.

The 66-year-old former Union Minister  was rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on August 9 after he complained of breathlessness and restlessness.

According to sources, he was on life support system. A multidisciplinary team of doctors was consistently monitoring his condition.

AIIMS had stopped issuing any bulletin on Jaitley's health condition since August 10.

Jaitley, a lawyer by profession, had been a key member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet in the BJP government's first term. He held the finance and defence portfolios, and often acted as the chief troubleshooter of the government.

Jaitley did not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election presumably because of his ill-health.

In May this year, Jaitley was admitted to AIIMS 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.

Jaitley, who had stopped attending office since early April last year, was back in the finance ministry on August 23, 2018.

In September 2014, he underwent bariatric surgery to correct the weight he had gained because of a long-standing diabetic condition.

15:49 PM (IST)  •  25 Aug 2019

Shri @RahulGandhi expresses his condolences to Smt. Sangeeta Jaitley on the untimely demise of Shri Arun Jaitley. https://t.co/dsL9RwIfB3

15:49 PM (IST)  •  25 Aug 2019

Rahul Gandhi expresses his condolences to Smt. Sangeeta Jaitley on the untimely demise of Shri Arun Jaitley.

15:22 PM (IST)  •  25 Aug 2019

Former finance minister Arun Jaitley was cremated at the Nigambodh Ghat here with full State honours on Sunday in the presence of leaders from across the political spectrum and scores of his admirers and party workers. Jaitley's son Rohan performed the last rites.

15:05 PM (IST)  •  25 Aug 2019

Rohan Jaitley carries the body of his father Arun Jaitley inside the cremation ground at Nigambodh Ghat for the final rites to begin. A wooden pyre has been prepared for the veteran BJP leader as political leaders across party lines wait on the sidelines.

15:22 PM (IST)  •  25 Aug 2019

The final rites ceremony to cremate Arun Jaitley will begin in a few moments from now as the entire BJP leadership along with opposition leaders gather at the Nigambodh Ghat.