Chandigarh August 24, 2019 (Yes Punjab News)
Former Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Parkash Singh Badal said here today that with the sad and the most untimely demise of Shri Arun Jaitley, an era in Indian politics has come to a close. “India will always continue to be inspired by the ideals of clean, value based-politics which Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee and Shri Arun Jaitely symbolised, “ said Mr Badal.
Expressing ‘profound sorrow over the former FM’s demise,Mr Badal said “Jaitley Sahib transformed politics into statesmanship and statesmanship into humaneness. Although the loss of every great leader is always untimely, yet nowhere will this be felt more acutely and painfully than in the case of Mr Jaitley’s departing from us.
He has left us at a time when the world is in a crying need of the values he practised and symbolized,” said Mr Badal in a statement here this evening, adding that Mr Jaitley’s passing away was a huge personal loss for him as “I have lost a great, loving and respectful friend who always sought and valued paternal affection from me.”
Mr Badal said that Punjab has lost one of its most dignified and honest sons who loved and was proud of Punjabiat. “There was pride in his eyes and a glow on his face whenever he talked about Punjab and spoke in the Punjabi language.
The former CM said that for Mr. Jaitley, Akali-BJP alliance ‘symbolised secular and federal India,” . For Mr Jaitley, said Mr Badal, “the alliance was an article of faith which flowed from the respect for India’s natural richness of diversity. His entire life was committed to the ideals which the alliance symbolizes: peace and communal harmony.”
“Without a doubt, Jaitley Sahib will always be remembered as one of the tallest icons who symbolized dignified democratic conduct. He never swerved from the path marked by history for the tallest statesman, a path where milestones are etched in tolerance, farsightedness and respect for diversity of opinions and ways of life.
In an age, when political leaders fly into a rage at the merest provocation and are fond of both abusing and ridiculing their opponents, Jaitley Sahib, like Vajpayee Sahib, kept faith with patience, forbearance and a willingness to accommodate diversity of opinions, sometimes even at the cost of one’s own political stakes. These values are now in serious danger of disappearing from our public life. The greatest tribute to Mr Jaitley would be to return to these ideals which he practiced with natural ease,” said Mr Badal.
Paying glowing tributes to the late Finance Minister, Mr Badal said, “No one in this era symbolised Punjabiat and the liberal secular ethos as Jaitley sahib did. He was a born secular democrat committed to the federal impulse which runs through our constitution.
And he was one of the very few in public life all over the world who could never be found or heard using harsh or intemperate language even against his most bitter critic or opponent, no matter how great the provocation. There lot in the life and contribution of Jaitley Sahib from which the new crop of young and modern politicians must learn.”
