Patna/Kolkata: RJD national president Lalu Prasad Sunday paid “sincere tributes” to former Union minister and noted jurist Ram Jethmalani, with whom he had shared a personal bond which eventually resulted in a political collaboration.
Jethmalani, who breathed his last Sunday morning at 96, was a sitting member of the Rajya Sabha from Bihar.
Formerly associated with the BJP and a member of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee cabinet, he got elected to the Upper House for the sixth time in 2016 on an RJD ticket.
“Saddened by the demise of Shri #RamJethmalani, former Law Minister, @RJDforIndia MP and a stalwart lawyer. He was an institution in himself. His demise is great loss to nation and legal fraternity. Sincere tributes to him and condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace,” Prasad, who is in Ranchi serving sentences in fodder scam cases, tweeted.
The former Bihar chief minister’s official Twitter account is handled by people close to him. Notably, Jethmalani was one of Prasad’s counsel in the fodder scam case. While still a Rajya Sabha member on a BJP ticket, he had canvassed for the Grand Alliance comprising the RJD, the JD(U) and the Congress.
His gave up his membership of the Rajya Sabha just ahead of the expiry of his fifth term in 2016 and was promptly re-elected to the Upper House with the help of Prasad, whose party had returned with the largest tally in the state assembly the year before.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Governor Jagdeep Dhankar also condoled the death of former union minister Jethmalani.
While Banerjee recalled her meetings with Jethmalani during her visit to Delhi, Dhankar termed the jurist as a “legal legend” and said his death is a loss for the country.
“Saddened at the passing away of esteemed lawyer and former Union Minister Ram Jethmalani Ji. We used to often meet when I visited Delhi. Condolences to his family, friends and admirers,” Banerjee was quoted as saying in a statement released by the Chief Minister’s Office.
Jethmalani died at his official residence in New Delhi at the age of 95. Recollecting his professional and political association with Jethmalani, the Governor, who was also a noted Supreme Court lawyer and a former MP, said the country’s “legal scenario particularly criminal jurisprudence would immortalise Jethmalani.”
“In the death of 95-year-old legal legend, eminent lawyer and former union law minister, India has lost an exceptional lawyer and iconic public figure,” Dhankar said.