Leaders cutting across party lines pay tributes to Arun Jaitley In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Leaders cutting across party lines and other dignitaries from different walks of life attended a prayer meeting organized in memory of BJP stalwart and former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Bhubaneswar today.

Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha Assembly Speaker SN Patro, BJP National Vice-president Baijayant Panda and others paid rich tributes to Jaitley, who died while undergoing treatment at New Delhi AIIMS on August 24.

It was Arun Jaitley who allocated funds for Lord Jagannath's Nabakalebera and approved Lord Jagannath's Nabakalebara Commemorative Coins, said Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

“I have fond memories of him, framing sentences in his budget document for allocating funds to commemorate the 200 years of Paika rebellion. Good times or difficult, Jaitley ji was a man for all seasons. I pray to Lord Jagannath to bless his family & grant peace to his departed soul,” tweeted Pradhan.

“The way Arun ji brought reforms as a Finance Minister and introduced GST, it was a commendable achievement. As a Law Minister, he was instrumental in introducing Fast Track Courts in the country. I had personal and family relations with Arun Ji who guided me in my political career just like my elder brother. He has also worked as an advocate for my late father,” said BJP national Vice-president and former MP, Baijayant Panda.

Odisha BJP organized the prayer meeting in Bhubaneswar which was attended by several BJD and Congress leaders including-Debi Prasad Mishra, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, Suresh Routray, Arjya Kumar Ganendra and others.