New Delhi, October 1: Late former Union Minister Arun Jaitley's wife Sangeeta Jaitley wrote to Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, appealing him to disburse the pension she is entitled to among the "most needy" employees of the Rajya Sabha. Naidu, who is also the Chairman of the Parliament's Upper House, has been appealed by Sangeeta to use the pension amount for the welfare of Rajya Sabha's Class IV employees. Rajya Sabha Bypolls on October 16 to Fill Vacancies of Arun Jaitley, Ram Jethmalani.

In the letter sent to Naidu, a copy of which has also been sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sangeeta said the use of Jaitley's pension for the upliftment and welfare of those in need would be the most befitting tribute to the deceased BJP leader. Describing Jaitley as a "silent philanthropist", Sangeeta said she is sure that her husband would had approved of her move had he been alive.

"I would humbly request the honourable Parliament to deploy this pension amount towards the welfare of the most needy segment of the institution, which Arun served for almost two decades; the Class IV employees of the Rajya Sabha," she said in the letter to Naidu.

Jaitley, 66, left a massive political vacuum with his untimely demise. The 66-year-old died on August 24, days after he was admitted in the critical care unit of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

Jaitley was a crucial part of the erstwhile Narendra Modi government, holding key portfolios including Finance, Corporate Affairs, Information & Broadcast and Defence -- which he held for a short while before the elevation of the then Goa CM Manohar Parrikar to the post.

On his death, PM Modi said the nation has suffered an irreparable loss and he has faced a massive personal setback. Describing Jaitley as among his most "valued friends", the Prime Minister said there could be only few in Indian public life who would have such deep insights in policy matters as Jaitley did.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 01, 2019 10:16 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).