India Inc mourns Arun Jaitley's demise

New Delhi: Tributes poured in from India Inc with corporate leaders expressing profound grief at the passing away of former Finance Minister and BJP veteran Arun Jaitley here, describing him as a true reformist and great statesman.

The former Union Minister died at AIIMS on Saturday, where he was undergoing treatment for several weeks. He was 66.

"A gifted orator, dynamic parliamentarian, champion of public policy and a man with an invaluable ability to connect with people from different sections, Mr Arun Jaitley's vision and progressive thinking has been a catalyst in shaping New India. RIP," Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani said in a tweet.

Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said India has lost one of the finest political leaders and a legal luminary. "He had a very personal touch in his dealings, something that attracted people even from the other side of the political spectrum to seek his counsel in resolving complex matters.

His legal acumen was highly-acclaimed but his sound advice went far beyond and he was sought even for family matters, personal career advice and crisis management of all sorts," he added.

Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra also tweeted his condolences, saying "I salute, and pray for the soul of a man who lived by his convictions and committed his life to his country".

HDFC Ltd Chairman Deepak Parekh said the nation has lost one of its tallest leaders. The country will always be beholden to him for leading one of India's most significant reforms of recent times, which was the introduction of GST.

"He was appreciated for listening to the views of industry and then putting forth practical and implementable solutions. As legal and intellectual stalwart, he stood out for his ability to multitask by simultaneously holding charge of key ministries.

Deep condolences to his family. India Inc. must honour his legacy," Parekh said.