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Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj passes away
New Delhi, Aug 7, 2019 (BSS/PTI) – Former External Affairs Minister and
senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj passed away on Tuesday night, AIIMS sources
said.
She was 67.
The senior BJP leader was brought to AIIMS around 9:30pm and was straight
away taken to the emergency ward.
AIIMS doctors said she died of a cardiac arrest.
“A glorious chapter in Indian politics comes to an end. India grieves the
demise of a remarkable leader who devoted her life to public service and
bettering lives of the poor. Sushma Swaraj ji was one of her kind, who was a
source of inspiration for crores of people,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi
said in a series of tweets. Several senior ministers, including Harsh
Vardhan, Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani Prakash Javadekar, reached AIIMS after
she was admitted to the hospital.
Swaraj had put out a tweet in the evening congratulating Prime Modi after
the Centre’s move to revoke special status for Jammu and Kashmir and
bifurcate the border state into two Union Territories secured Parliament’s
approval.
“Narendra Modi ji – Thank you Prime Minister. Thank you very much. I was
waiting to see this day in my lifetime,” she had said.
Prime Minister Modi, in his tweets, hailed Swaraj as a “prolific orator and
outstanding parliamentarian” and said she was admired and revered across
party lines.
“She was uncompromising when it came to matters of ideology and interests
of the BJP, whose growth she immensely contributed to,” Modi said.
“An excellent administrator, Sushma Ji set high standards in every Ministry
she handled. She played a key role in bettering India’s ties with various
nations. As a minister we also saw her compassionate side, helping fellow
Indians who were in distress in any part of the world,” he said.
“Extremely shocked to hear of the passing of Smt Sushma Swaraj. The country
has lost a much loved leader who epitomised dignity, courage & integrity in
public life. Ever willing to help others, she will always be remembered for
her service to the people of India,” President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he was deeply shocked and anguished by
the sudden demise of an extremely valued colleague.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, “Deeply shocked to learn of
the passing away of Smt Sushma Swaraj. Difficult to accept this news. The
whole nation grieves, the Foreign Ministry even more so.”
The Congress condoled her demise.
“We are saddened to hear about the untimely demise of Smt Sushma Swaraj.
Our condolences to her family and loved ones,” the party said.
“I’m shocked to hear about the demise of Sushma Swaraj Ji, an extraordinary
political leader, a gifted orator & an exceptional Parliamentarian, with
friendships across party lines. My condolences to her family in this hour of
grief. May her soul rest in peace. Om Shanti,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi
said on Twitter.
Swaraj had a kidney transplant in 2016 and had opted out of contesting Lok
Sabha polls earlier this year for health reasons.
She is survived by her husband Swaraj Kaushal and daughter Bansuri.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0930 hrs