Former Union minister Arun Jaitley cremated with full state honours

Senior BJP leader and Former Union minister Arun Jaitley was cremated with full state honours at the Nigambodh Ghat here on Sunday. His son Rohan gave the ‘mukhagni’ to the funeral pyre amid the chanting of holy mantras.

Jaitley’s family, including his wife Sangeeta Jailtley and other members of the extended family were present at the crematorium.

The cremation was attended by country’s who’s who including Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, several Union ministers, a number of chief ministers, Governors of the states, MPs and senior leaders of BJP and other parties.

Jaitley passed away at AIIMS on Saturday where he had been admitted on August 9 in a critical condition.

Earlier in the day, Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and senior leaders from across the political divide paid last respects to Jaitley at the BJP headquarters before his final journey.

Wrapped in the national flag, the mortal remains were brought to the BJP headquarters on the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg at around 11 AM from his Kailash Colony residence.

The body was kept there for over two hours as a stream of mourners kept coming to pay their respects.

The body was taken to the Nigambodh Ghat on the banks of Yamuna, on a flower-decked gun carriage, for performing the last rites.

Party workers remembered Jaitley as a leader who always helped them in need.

On Saturday, Jaitley's body was kept at his residence where President Ram Nath Kovind, BJP chief Amit Shah and several leaders across the political spectrum offered him floral tributes.