When in December 2011, the UPA government failed to pass the Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha late mid-night hours - Arun Jaitley summing up the entire game was -
"Fleedom at midnight".
Paying tribute to a good orator among the Neta class is perhaps easy - One has to just recall his one liners and good statements. Some of these would certainly go down the memory lane as part of politico-literacy and rhetoric.
Here are few samples:
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| Political compatriots and Friends |
"Enormity of protests is proportionate to anger and the enormity of anger is proportionate to the corruption". - Arun Jaitley on Manmohan Singh government's handling of Corruption and demand for a Lokpal in August 2011.
Finding faults with the handling of the civil society activists and Anna Hazare chiefly, Jaitley had said, "You led them up to a garden path, then suddenly dumped them. Now they do not trust you anymore."
"Can we blame the people? ...at the end of the day, public opinion is fierce and fair......They have a right to protest and crusade, we must not curtail their right nor should we say like a child we will not talk to you," he remarked.
With regard to 2G scam, Jaitley said the Manmohan Singh government "can put a lid on us, but not on public anger."
When in December 2011, the UPA government failed to pass the Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha late mid-night hours - Jaitley summing up the entire game was - "Fleedom at midnight".
On Liberhan Commission report: Rajya Sabha, Dec 9, 2009
"If you say you want to build a temple at the sacred site, then you are not secular, but if you say that the temple should not be built, you are secular," - Arun Jaitley
"The report is a tragedy of errors".
"No demolisher was identified. Police said no, Muslim organizations said no, political parties said no, but the judge says that it could not have happened without conspiracy as your ideology promotes this. Whether he (Liberhan) was a truth investigator or a political pundit," the BJP leader said.
BJP chief Nadda, Amit Shah pay homage to Jaitley on death anniversary
New Delhi:
BJP chief J P Nadda and union ministers including Amit Shah and Dr S Jaishankar on Wednesday,Aug 24, paid homage to former Minister and their esteemed party colleague Arun Jaitley on his second death anniversary.
"Arun Jaitley had wide knowledge about the constitution, a great debater and was also a popularleader," Home Minister Amit Shah wrote in his tweet in Hindi.
Late Jaitley had made a memorable contribution to country's polity, he said.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar in his missive wrote: "Tribute to Shri Arun Jaitley ji, with his large heart and great mind. His contribution to India’s progress is beyond measure".
BJP national president J P Nadda in his twitter missive said, Late Jaitley had made immensecontribution to the country and the BJP as an organisation.
Late Jaitley served as Union Finance Minister and also held charge of Defence portfolio for twobrief periods under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He was also a Minister under Atal Bihari Vajpayee between 1999 and 2004 holding portfolioslike Information and Broadcasting and Commerce.
From 2009 he was Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and his debating skills evenleft political detractors impressed.
Born December 28, 1952, he breathed his last on August 24, 2019.
Some of his best debates were during Lokpal crisis and on the Liberhan Commission reporton Ayodhya and GST Bill.
Earlier in 2002, he was one of few leaders who defended Narendra Modi strongly for the post-Godhrariots.
For long - he was the real 'Delhi' contact - the eyes and ears - of Narendra Modi.
On political front, he was hailed as a 'good poll manager' as he often brought in electoral success to the saffron party - in states like Gujarat and Bihar.
Though he had fallen ill, Jaitley took a key part in BJP's election campaign in 2019and though he was a member of the Rajya Sabha, owing to health reason he did notjoin the cabinet.
In fact, on the eve of swearing in, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had gone to his houseto see his 'ailing friend'.
Political rival S Jaipal Reddy of Congress would, however, differ: "He is a successful poll manager for BJP, but he never contested any big election".
He was darling of media - especially the BJP beat correspondents for years. He was called 'Bureau Chief' as he knew a galaxy of journalists by their first name. He also knew how to mock journalists and many also said - his wit was often not grasped well by capital's journalists.
Once to a crowded group of scribes in his office, Late Jaitley had said - "Well then, many journalists are standing and most of the others are outstanding".
Some of his 'friends' often joked that Jaitley could have been a good newspaper editor too.
The grapevine in the media has been - he knew how to plan stories for journalists and would give them 'leads'. Some bitter detractors among BJP leaders more often complained that he also knew how to 'plan' stories for or against many politicians.
ends
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