Exceptional parliamentarian with friendship across party lines: Rahul Gandhi remembers Sushma Swaraj

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday expressed grief over the sudden demise of former External Affairs Minister and BJP veteran Sushma Swaraj.

Taking to Twitter, the Gandhi scion wrote, "I am shocked to hear about the demise of Sushma Swaraj ji, an extraordinary political leader, a gifted orator and an exceptional parliamentarian, with friendship across party lines".

"My condolences to her family in this hour of grief. May her soul rest in peace. Om Shanti," he added.

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 ðŸ™Â

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 6, 2019

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Apart from Gandhi, other Congress leaders who condoled Swaraj's death include party general secretaries Motilal Vora, KC Venugopal and senior leader Shashi Tharoor among others.

Vora said the country has lost a great orator while Venugopal described Swaraj as an "extremely kind" leader.

"I am shocked to hear about the sudden demise of Smt Sushma Swaraj ji. Respected across party lines, Sushma ji was an extremely kind, one of a kind leader, a great orator and a tall parliamentarian. Condolences to her family. May her soul rest peace," Venugopal wrote.

Tharoor, who termed Swaraj "a genuine people's person" said he was shocked and saddened by this news.

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"I last saw Sushmaji at Prime Minister's swearing-in two months ago. She was a brilliant speaker in Hindi, a genuine people's person in Government and I was proud of our excellent relationship when I chaired the External Affairs Committee. Om Shanti," Tharoor wrote, remembering some his cherishable moments with Swaraj.

The Indian National Congress also took to it's official Twitter handle and wrote, "We are saddened to hear about the untimely demise of Smt Sushma Swaraj. Our condolences to her family and loved ones".

The BJP veteran passed away at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi late Tuesday night. At about 9:30 pm, she was rushed to the hospital after suffering a massive cardiac arrest. She was 67.