Jun 22, 2019
Arun Jaitley- A Remarkable Parliamentarian
June 21st was important for more than one reasons. As part of the Yoga day Celebrations, a special event was organised in the majestic campus of the Indian Parliament. The newly elected speaker of the house, Om Birla stood up in the house today to specially thank the members for attending the event. More than 130 members of Parliament attended the event early in the morning despite the fact that at 11 am it was the first session of the 17th Lok Sabha.
June 21st marked the beginning of the 17th Lok Sabha. It was also the first day of the Budget Session in the upper house. Rajya Sabha is also sometimes referred to as House of Elders, and very rightly so. For the ones who love to follow the proceedings of the Houses in Parliament, would know that the caliber of debates in Rajya Sabha is much higher than that in the Lok Sabha. This is because of the esteemed members of the Rajya Sabha. There are subject specialists, President Appointees and also the parties often nominate people with high standings in the society to this house. One such leader who has been the most remarkable member in the recent history of Rajya Sabha is Arun Jaitley. He was the one man who, with his intellectual arguments, raised the standard of the debates in the house. For decades, Arun Jaitley has been the most credible voice of the upper house. He has been on both the sides of the bench. Up until 2014 he was the Leader of Opposition, a post that he held with a lot of responsibility and set a strong precedent.
During the same time Gulam Nabi Azaad of the Indian National Congress, another outstanding parliamentarian, used to be the Leader of the House. From 2014 to 2019, Arun Jaitley was the Leader of the House and while being in this position he, alongside the Chairman of the house, ensured that the business in house runs flawlessly and also played a vital role in creating a conducive environment for productive debates. Interestingly, during this time, Gulam Nabi Azad happened to be the Leader of the Opposition.
In a way, Rajya Sabha was Arun Jaitley’s permanent address, because he never won a General Election and thus couldn’t be a member of the Lok Sabha. But, in the hindsight I believe, whatever happened, happened for the good. I believe even he too loved being a part of the Rajya Sabha. Even his opponents in the house held him in high regard and cooperated him in the functioning of the house.
So much so, that when Javed Akhtar rose to deliver his farewell speech at the end of his tenure in Rajya Sabha, he began by saying that he was happy to witness some of the most scholarly speeches of Arun Jaitley and pointing at him he added that Arun Jaitley is the leader who has understanding of all the spheres including the issues related to the Film Industry.
At another instance, as the Leader of the House, Arun Jaitley rose to deliver a speech on the occasion of the farewell of Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary of CPI. He fondly remembered his good old University days when both the leaders, Yechury and Jaitley, used to engage in endless debates and spoke of how both of them choose a separate path to serve the nation. Replying to which, the left leader spoke of their 45 years of association and said that ideologically they might be on the two sides of the fence, but in personal life he has tremendous respect for Arun Jaitley.
Such was the stature of this leader who had friends, admirers and well-wishers across party lines. To have Arun Jaitley in the upper house, to listen him debate in the house, to watch him stand at every small interval to resolve some doubt, to watch him argue with the Vice President regarding the rules and procedure of the house was a treat in itself. Of the many big posts that he has held in his long and illustrious career, it is perhaps his role as an excellent Parliamentarian in Rajya Sabha, which shall always stand out.
Currently, owing to bad health, he couldn’t attend the proceeding of the house. The party has appointed Thawar Chand Gehlot as the leader of the house in Rajya Sabha. Arun Jaitley has raised the bar and dignity of this position with his statesman like working style. Thawar Chand Gehlot thus has a big responsibility on his shoulders.
The house and the nation will certainly feel the vacuum in the absence of Arun Jaitley.
We wish Arun Jaitley good health and hope that he returns to the Rajya Sabha soon.
Below mentioned are a few links of the Rajya Sabha, which might give a glimpse of what Arun Jaitley was in the Rajya Sabha
1) Javed Akhtar Speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_CJW4hew6o
2) Arun Jaitley’s Farewell speech for Sitaram Yechury
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2DMoXXf5kY
3) Arun Jaitley is also a cricket aficionado. To know more watch this short speech during the farewell of Hamid Ansari.
