Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday attended a prayer meet in memory of former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and paid his respects. Naidu was accompanied by his wife Usha Naidu

Venkaiah Naidu said Arun Jaitley was a close associate and a dear friend. Referring to Jaitley's knowledge, Venkaiah Naidu said that he would be missed for his perspectives on all major issues which enriched public and parliamentary discourse

Venkaiah Naidu said Arun Jaitely epitomised versatility, was a multi-faceted genius and possessed remarkable clarity of thought and conviction. He said Jaitley has left an indelible mark on the canvas of India's history and expressed hope that his life and legacy would inspire many others to serve the nation with dedication and selflessness.

Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah and a number of other dignitaries were present at the occasion

When Arun Jaitley passed away, recalling his experience of working with him, Shah said, "It was a pleasant experience for everyone to meet Jaitleyji with a jovial personality and hold discussions with him. Today his departure has brought such a vacancy in the country's politics and the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is not possible to be replenished soon."

Bharatiya Janata Party's Working President Jagat Prakash Nadda paid tributes to former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley

J.P Nadda had earlier tweeted, "Jaitley's passing away is a personal loss for me and crores of workers of BJP. The relationship between the BJP and Arun Jaitley is unbreakable because he dedicated his life to the party and its ideology from a very young age." [sic]

Noted Bhajan singer Anup Jalota sang bhajans at the prayer meeting, which was attended by a number of judges and lawyers. Prominent corporate leaders were also present on the occasion.

Leaders of various political parties, including Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP's working president JP Nadda, JD(U) leader KC Tyagi, SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal and BJD MP Pinaki Misra, were present at the meeting, which was organised by Arun Jaitley's family.

Arun Jaitley (66) died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi on August 24. He was suffering from various ailments and was admitted to the hospital on August 9