Arun Jaitley, the former union finance minister and BJP stalwart died on Saturday at Delhi’s AIIMS at 12.07 pm after facing several health issues for many months. He was admitted to the hospital on August 9.
He will be cremated with full state honours at the Nigambodh Ghat today. His mortal remains were shifted to his south Delhi home last evening, is being taken to BJP headquarters in a cavalcade.
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The body will remain there till 1 pm for public homage. The last rites will take place at 2:30 pm in a procession on an eight-km route at Nigambodh ghat.
Delhi Traffic Police tweeted, “Due to cremation of former finance minister of India, Mr Arun Jaitley, at Nigambodh Ghat crematorium the Traffic volume is expected to be heavy on the ring road between Indraprasth Flyover and Chandagi Ram Akhara on 25th August, between 1 pm and 5 pm.”
Meanwhile, hundreds of people including ministers have gathered at the BJP headquarters to pay their last respects.
A lawyer by profession, Jaitley had been an important part in Narendra Modi’s Cabinet during his first tenure as prime minister. 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 elections presumably because of his ill-health.
Earlier this year, Jaitley underwent treatment for soft cell sarcoma, a type of cancer that affects soft tissues of the body, including fat, muscles and blood vessels.
