#RIPSushmaSwaraj: BJP leader to be cremated with full state honors
A prolific leader, a brilliant orator, and one of the most-loved politicians of India, Sushma Swaraj passed away on Tuesday night. She was 67. Her demise came as a shock to everyone and since last night tributes for the former External Affairs Minister haven't stopped. She will be cremated with full state honors at 3 PM on Wednesday at the Lodhi crematorium. Here's more.
At around 9 PM on Tuesday, Swaraj was rushed to Delhi's AIIMS after her health worsened. Doctors said she passed away due to a cardiac arrest. Swaraj, who had a kidney transplant about three years ago, had not been keeping well lately. She opted out of general elections. In the last term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she handled foreign ministry compassionately.
As the news of her demise broke, politicians like Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal, and Union WCD Minister Smriti Irani rushed to the hospital. Her mortal remains were later taken to her residence opposite Kerala House at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
Speaking to media, JP Nadda, BJP working president, said, "Her loss is irreparable and the void left by her can never be filled. It's a huge loss to the party and the nation." He revealed Swaraj's mortal remains will be kept at BJP headquarters from 12 noon to 3 PM for people to pay respects. Naturally, several leaders got emotional remembering Swaraj.
#WATCH Union Minister RS Prasad tears up while talking about #SushmaSwaraj; says, "when I came back from Parliament today, I saw her tweet(Swaraj tweeted on Article 370 revoked-"I was waiting to see this day in my lifetime"), then news came that she is no more. I've no words." pic.twitter.com/M9eLmJjg1i
— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2019
Leading the tributes, PM Modi appreciated how Swaraj handled foreign ministry in his first term. He said a glorious chapter in Indian politics has come to an end. "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," he tweeted. Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed grief.
I have an axe to grind with you Didi . You made Bansuri pick a restaurant to take me for a celebratory lunch. You left without fulfilling your promise to the two of us.
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) August 6, 2019
A slew of personalities visited Swaraj's residence this morning to pay their respects. BSP chief Mayawati said, "Sushma Swaraj ji's demise personally saddens me. She was an able politician, administrator & a good orator." Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien, and BJP leaders Anurag Thakur, Babul Supriyo, as well as Manoj Tiwari, also visited Swaraj's home today.
