Kuchh bhi ho jaaye, chalte raho: Pradhan recalls Jaitley’s words on death anniv

He added, "There will be numerous things that might come along your way but we need to take it as challenge and fight. This is what I learned from Jaitley at many instances that I follow very strongly."

Pradhan was responding to a query about his most memorable moments with Jaitley, who had a major influence on the BJP's policies before his death on August 28, 2019.

Top Sangh Parivar leaders, including RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, and Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh, who was one of the two interlocutors, along with JP Nadda, during the Jantar Mantar protests, attended the memorial.

Interestingly, Singh and Pradhan did not exchange greetings at the event. Pradhan, however, was seen engaged in a cordial conversation with Hosabale, the RSS’s second-in-command. The two later left the venue together in one car.

The memorial is organised annually by the Arun Jaitley Foundation at Arun Jaitley Park on the Siri Fort Road. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, L-G Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood were also present.

Meanwhile, in a letter to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Pradhan highlighted the deteriorating condition of the Odisha corridor, stating that heavy rainfall and excessive vehicular movement had resulted in the formation of large potholes at several locations.

With potholes and damaged stretches along the crucial Odisha corridor causing difficulties for motorists, Pradhan urged Gadkari to intervene immediately and ensure the urgent repair and maintenance of the vital road link connecting Sambalpur, Angul and Cuttack.