President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu pay last tributes to Sushma Swaraj

President Ram Nath Kovind reached Sushma Swaraj’s residence on Wednesday and paid his last tributes to the departed leader. The BJP stalwart and former External Affairs Minister breathed her last at AIIMS yesterday night. Extending his condolences, President 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.”

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu also visited former foreign minister Sushma Swaraj’s residence and paid tribute.

PM Modi paid tributes at the residence of former External Affairs Minister on Wednesday. The Prime Minister was seen consoling Sushma Swaraj’s daughter Bansuri and her husband Swaraj Kaushal.  A visibly emotional PM was seen standing quietly next to the casket in which Swaraj’s mortal remains have been kept for the last glimpse.

In a series of tweets, PM Modi had lauded Swaraj’s exceptional oratory skills. “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 had tweeted. 

Earlier on Tuesday, Sushma Swaraj took to Twitter to congratulate the current dispensation for abrogating Article 370. The tweet lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Centre's bold move to revoke Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcate the border state into two Union Territories, somehow indicated that it was the last day of her life.

"Thank you Prime Minister. Thank you very much. I was waiting to see this day in my lifetime," Swaraj wrote 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.