On August 24, 2019, BJP lost another stalwart, Shri Arun Jaitley ji. He was one of the tallest leaders of BJP and an excellent parliamentarian.
During the first term of Modi ji in 2014, Arun ji was the Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs. He also served as the Minister of Defence in 2017 and Minister of Information and Broadcasting in 2016.
Achievements as a finance minister in Modi ji’s cabinet
During this period, several big-ticket reforms were introduced in the economy. In 2016, the demonetization INR 500 and INR 1000 currency notes were brought in to curb corruption and terrorism. He was also responsible for the introduction and implementation of Goods and Service Tax regime which marked a new era in the tax regime of India. He was responsible for setting up of a Monetary Policy Committee to set the inflation target of 4%. Mergers in the banking sector were also an achievement under his leadership as the finance minister. The merger of State Bank of India with its associate banks and Bharatiya Mahila Bank and merger of Bank of Baroda with Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank ushered in a new chapter of banking in India. As a finance minister, Jaitely ji also toiled very hard to provide relief to the stressed assets in the banking sector. He was one of the brains behind the creation of a framework for a time-bound solution for bankrupt companies under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). He was also instrumental in setting out the roadmap for direct tax reforms. He worked towards greater liberalization of the economy by relaxing the foreign direct investment regulations.
Early life and entry into politics
Arun ji started his career as a lawyer. He completed his LLB from Delhi University and started practicing before the Supreme Court of India and several High Courts since 1977. He was designated as a Senior Advocate by the Delhi High Court in 1990. He was also appointed as the Additional Solicitor General in 1989.
During Emergency (1975-77), Arun ji was placed under preventive detention first in the Ambala Jail and then in the Tihar Jail. In 1977, he was appointed the president of the Delhi ABVP and All India Secretary of the ABVP. Later, he was appointed as the president of the youth wing of the BJP. Arun ji was a part of the national executive committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party since 1991. During the tenure of Vajpayee ji in 1999, Arun ji was appointed Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting (Independent Charge). During this period, he was also appointed Minister of State for Disinvestment (Independent Charge). This was a new ministry created for implementing the policy of disinvestments. In 2000, he took additional charge of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Company Affairs.
Tenure as the leader of opposition
He was chosen as the Leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha in 2009. He had a stupendous run as the leader of the opposition as well. He was a key figure responsible for the passage of the women reservation bill in the Upper House of Parliament. He was also successful in introducing the 84th amendment to the Constitution of India in 2002 which froze parliamentary seats until 2026. In 2004, he was the man behind the 91st constitutional amendment in relation to the anti-defection laws.
A man who donned many hats
Arun ji was also an excellent strategist for BJP. He advised Modi ji for his 2002 General Assembly election in Gujarat. Modi ji won by grabbing a whopping 126 seats out of 182. In 2003, Arun ji managed the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and won the elections as well. In 2004, Arun ji guided BJP in the Assembly Elections in Karnataka which coincided with the General Elections. BJP won 18 out of 26 Lok Sabha and grabbed 83 seats in the Assembly elections. This made BJP the largest party in Karnataka.
Personal life
Arun ji loved cricket and was responsible for improving the standards of the stadium in New Delhi. He was also the president of the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) for 13 years. Arun ji was a father figure to several junior leaders in BJP. He galvanized their strengths and helped them turn into fine leaders by improving on their weaknesses. He was a man of integrity and principles. He was never shy to speak the truth, even if it was inconvenient. His fiercest critics and political opponents also complimented him on this quality.
He was one of the closest confidants of Modi ji and their friendship was almost four decades old. Choking up on Arun ji’s untimely demise, Modi ji said that he lost a friend. May his soul rest in peace. My condolences to his family members.
