Published 16:43 IST, August 24th 2019
Arun Jaitley passes away: Remembering his sparkling wit
Former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's career has been studded with moments when he has used both wit and humour to outdo the Opposition's arguments.
Advertisement
Former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has passed away on Saturday, August 24, 2019, after being admitted to AIIMS in New Delhi on August 9, the hospital has announced in a statement. The AIIMS issued a statement informing about his demise on Saturday. A senior BJP leader, Arun Jaitley was a brilliant orator with an amazing sense of wit and humour, as many incidents in the past where Arun Jaitley has outdone his opponents with his words are evidence for the former Union Minister's oratory skills. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while paying tribute to Arun Jaitley, noted that Arun Jaitley had gone on to become a liked face in the BJP and had the ability to articulate the Party's ideology to the grassroots levels of the country.
Full of life, blessed with wit, a great sense of humour and charisma, Arun Jaitley Ji was admired by people across all sections of society. He was multi-faceted, having impeccable knowledge about India’s Constitution, history, public policy, governance and administration.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 24, 2019
Arun Jaitley uses James Bond reference to shut Congress
Former Finance Minister has used his oratory skills to outwit the Opposition on many occasions. The senior BJP leader is known to use both wit and humour to tackle the arguments of the Opposition. On one occasion, Arun Jaitley used a James Bond reference to trump the Congress which was attacking the BJP. Then Congress chief Rahul Gandhi was mounting attacks on the BJP for the Rafale deal when Arun Jaitley made an Ian Fleming's James Bond reference and gave a befitting reply to the Opposition. The following dialogue was said by Jaitley in the Parliament, invoking the dialogue from the James Bond film.
“Madam, if there was one case, I may have given the family the benefit of the doubt but if in Bofors, the finger points to you, in national herald, the finger points to you if in Augusta the finger points to you then three is a bit too much” and further added that “James Bond had said if it happens once, it is happenstance, it can happen, if it is twice, it is a coincidence, if it is thrice it is a conspiracy and the conspirators of various defence deals today have the audacity to raise the allegation against others ”
Arun Jaitley uses a line from 1980s sitcom
The former Finance Minister was known for his quick and witty response to questions and in debates. On January 2, 2019, Arun Jaitley made a reference from the 1980s British sitcom 'Ýes Minister' to respond to the Opposition that was attacking the government over the Rafale deal, accusing the government of having a costlier deal than that of the UPA's and that Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence was chosen as the French jet makers offset partner under pressure from the BJP government. Arun Jaitley used the line from the popular sitcom of the 1980s to respond to Rahul Gandhi and to criticize UPA's decision making in the Rafale deal.
Arun Jaitley said, “the most incapable minister and the most incapable administrator is the one who doesn't take decisions”
Wit and humour: Arun Jaitley's combination
The former Finance Minister was widely known in the Parliament for effectively using wit and humour combined to tackle the Opposition's arguments. In one such case where the Congress was flying paper planes in the House, Jaitley countered the actions of the Opposition by saying that despite the Speaker requesting the members to not repeat the actions the Opposition continued to do so because they were remembering the Euro fighters and were hence flying paper planes.
In another incident, former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley gave a witty response to TMC leader Saugata Roy, telling him that luxury tax was imposed on cigarettes to make sure the leader cuts down on his smoking. Further, he added that smoking was not beneficial to the health and that he had seen Saugata Roy frequently visiting the Smokers Room next to the Central Hall. He advised the members to not indulge in the activity and said that the government was doing the right thing by imposing the tax on it.
15:36 IST, August 24th 2019