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.
Sushma Swaraj did not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and chose to sit out of the government this year on account of her health. After PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony last month, Sushma Swaraj wrote a message on Twitter, thanking PM Narendra Modi for giving her the opportunity to hold the office for five years.
In the tweet, Sushma Swaraj said, "Prime Minister, you gave me an opportunity to serve our countrymen and overseas Indians as the Foreign Minister for five years and personally, also, gave me respect throughout my tenure. I am very grateful to you. I pray that our government becomes very successful."
1.29 pm: Hamid Karzai, Former President of Afghanistan: Deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Behinji Sushma Swaraj. A tall leader and a great orator and people’s person. My profound condolences to the people of India and her family and friends.
1.20 pm:
1.14 pm: Abdulla Shahid, Foreign Minister of Maldives: Deeply grieved to hear the demise of my good friend Sushma Swaraj; Stateswoman extraordinaire, diplomat par excellence; A warm human being. Key architect of renewed Maldives-India friendship. May she rest in peace!
1.05 pm:
1.04 pm: Political leaders across the country expressed grief over former EAM Sushma Swaraj's demise. FM Nirmala Sitharaman said she was an inspiration to many leaders.
01.00 pm: Sushma Swaraj mortal remains reach her residence.
12.45 pm: 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: PM Modi tweeted.
12.41 pm: Sushma Swaraj will be cremated at the Lodhi Road crematorium. The 'antim darshan' will be held from 12 pm till 3 pm at BJP HQs.
Also read: RIP Sushma Swaraj: From PM Modi to Shashi Tharoor, here's how Twitter reacted
12.15 pm: Ambassador of France to India: My heartfelt condolences to the family & loved ones of former EAM of India, Sushma Swaraj ji. One of India’s most respected leaders, she showed remarkable dedication to serving her fellow citizens & took the Indo-French relationship to new heights.
12.08 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to reach AIIMS soon.
12.00 pm: Rahul Gandhi: I’m shocked to hear about 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.
11.54 pm:
11.40 pm: Sushma Ji was a prolific orator and outstanding Parliamentarian. 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: PM Modi.
11.38 pm:
11.05 pm: BJP leaders Dr Harshvardhan and Nitin Gadkari have reached AIIMS to meet her.
11.01 pm:
11.00 pm: Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has been admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
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