Former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has passed away on Saturday, August 24, 2019 after being admitted to AIIMS in New Delhi on August 9, hospital has anunced in a statement. AIIMS issued a statement informing about his demise on Saturday. On day he had been admitted to AIIMS, hospital had issued a statement saying that he was being given treatment in ICU under a multidisciplinary team of doctors, and that at that point he was haemodynamically stable.  His unfortunate demise marks end of an extraordinary career that has witnessed him holding incredibly important positions at various levels, both in government and outside.

Below is statement by AIIMS:

BJP leader hospitalised in August

Jaitley, 66, had been visited by several top leaders of country since his admission. President Kovind visited AIIMS on day of his admission to hospital, PM Modi visited him immediately after his return to country from Bhutan. Union Minister Home Minister Amit Shah was also present in hospital on August 11. Dr Harsh Vardhan, Delhi Chief Ministers Arvind Kejriwal, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, as well as senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi had also visited AIIMS to inquire on former union minister. On day Mr. Jaitley had been admitted, a number of senior government leaders including PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had visited him at AIIMS. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu had also gone to AIIMS, on day after Jaitley's admission.

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About senior BJP leader

senior BJP leader, who held portfolios of Finance and Corporate Affairs for entirety of first Narendra Modi-led NDA government, had earlier opted out of second Modi government that was sworn-in in May, citing health grounds. He had, however, voiced that he would continue to serve government and his party in what capacity he could.

Arun Jaitley’s political career spanned multiple decades and tenures. In Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government, Mr Jaitley held portfolios of Information and Broadcasting while simultaneously holding Independent Charge of Department of Disinvestment and going on to hold Ministry of Law, Justice and Company Affairs and n Ministry of Shipping. 

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Role in PM Narendra Modi's cabinet in his first term

In Narendra Modi-led government, Jaitley came to be a centrepiece and was Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, of Corporate Affairs and held all-important Ministries of Finance and Defence. He was also leader of house in Rajya Sabha since Modi government came into office and had been a member of upper house from Gujarat since 2000.