PremiumNew Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have started reaching the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Saturday after the demise of of former finance minister Arun Jaitley due to prolonged illness.
Among the BJP leaders to have reached the hospital was Baijant Panda who recently joined the party after quitting from Biju Janata Dal (BJD). Jaitley was instrumental in getting Panda to join the BJP before the 2019 general elections.
Speaking to media outside AIIMS, Panda said that the former finance minister had been a guiding light to several leaders.
"Extremely saddened by Arun Jaitley passing. He was a renowned leader from his student days, and a titan of our times. Like many, many others, I was privileged to have been mentored by him. I learned enormously from him and deeply admired his ethical leadership style," said Baijayant Panda, senior BJP leader at AIIMS.
Jaitley is the second BJP leader to have passed away in less than a month due to prolonged illness. On 6 August, former external affairs minister and senior leader of BJP Sushma Swaraj had passed away.
Among other leaders was Sudhanshu Mittal who said that Jaitley was epitome of honesty and credibility in Indian politics and his demise has created a void in politics.
