Badals condole Jaitley's demise

Former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal condoled the death of former Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday, saying "an era in Indian politics has come to a close".

Jaitley, 66, who died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi on Saturday afternoon, was undergoing treatment at the hospital. He was admitted there on August 9.

"India will always continue to be inspired by the ideals of clean, value-based politics, which Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Arun Jaitely symbolised," Parkash Singh Badal said in a statement here.

The Akali Dal stalwart said the BJP leader's death was a huge personal loss for him, adding, "I have lost a great, loving and respectful friend, who always sought and valued paternal affection from me."
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal said Jaitley's demise was a "tragedy too profound for words."