(Image source from: ndtv.com)
Former External Affairs Minister and celebrated Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj passed away on Tuesday night after suffering massive cardiac arrest. She was 67.
Swaraj was taken to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) around 9.30 p.m. in a critical condition and was straight away taken to the emergency ward where she was pronounced dead, AIIMS sources said.
The sudden demise of one of the most prolific politicians of India triggered shock and grief among Indians across the world.
Just hours earlier her demise, Swaraj had tweeted to congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Center’s move to cancel 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 tweeted.
प्रधान मंत्री जी - आपका हार्दिक अभिनन्दन. मैं अपने जीवन में इस दिन को देखने की प्रतीक्षा कर रही थी. @narendramodi ji - Thank you Prime Minister. Thank you very much. I was waiting to see this day in my lifetime.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 6, 2019
"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 tweeted.
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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 6, 2019
Swaraj's mortal remains were taken to her Delhi residence. Her mortal remains it will be kept 12 p.m.-3 p.m. at the BJP headquarters on Wednesday for party workers and leaders to pay tributes, BJP working president JP Nadda was quoted as saying by News18.
Her last rites will be performed at the Lodhi crematorium with full state honors, he said.
Swaraj was known for a prompt response on Twitter to address grievances of overseas Indians. She had also played a key role in strengthening the BJP across the country in the 1990s.
The former Union minister 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.
"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.
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 #PresidentKovind
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 6, 2019
By Sowmya Sangam
