New Delhi:
Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi has penned a heartfelt letter to Arun Jaitley's wife Sangeeta Jaitley to share the stabbing pain the latter is going through following the death of the former finance minister on Saturday at AIIMS, Delhi. Condoling the untimely demise of Jaitley, Gandhi said that the BJP veteran fought the cruel illness with indomitable spirit till the end.
"Arun Jaitley fought his cruel illness with great courage till the end," the UPA chairperson wrote in her four-stanza-letter to Sangeeta, adding that she is very sad about the passing away of her beloved husband.
Remembering his heart touching ability to make friends easily, Gandhi said, Arun Jaitley was a person who attracted friends and admirers across the political spectrum and every walk of life."His passing is all the more tragic because he was so young, when he had so much more to contribute to national life," the Congress veteran stated.
READ | Arun Jaitley last rites LIVE: Mortal remains reach BJP office; Amit Shah, JP Nadda pay respects
The veteran politician also hailed Jaitley's intellect and communication skills which were evident in every cabinet position he held, be it the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha or a senior Advocate at the Supreme Court.
"Words are little consolation at this time of grief, but I wanted you, your son and your daughter to know that I share your pain. May Arunji find eternal peace," Sonia Gandhi concluded.
Congress President Smt Sonia Gandhi expresses her condolences to Smt Sangeeta Jaitley on the untimely demise of Shri Arun Jaitley. pic.twitter.com/m4fEio6r2n
— Congress (@INCIndia) August 24, 2019
Earlier on Saturday, Sonia paid a visit to Jaitley’s Kailash Colony residence and exchanged hugs with a grief-stricken Sangeeta. She joined the top Congress leadership in mourning Jaitley's death, saying that his contributions to public life will be remembered forever.
READ | In Pics: When Arun Jaitley became president of Delhi University Students' Union
Former Congress president and Sonia's son Rahul Gandhi in a tweet said, "I am sorry to hear about Mr Arun Jaitley's passing. My condolences to his family and friends. May he rest in peace".
Other Congress bigwigs who paid tributes to the former Union minister include - former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress national spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala, Jaitley's friend-cum-former colleague Kapil Sibal, former president Pranab Mukherjee, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, senior leaders Ahmed Patel, Shashi Tharoor and many more.
