Former Union Minister of India Sushma Swaraj passes away after suffering cardiac arrest in New Delhi

Former Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj passed away on Tuesday night, after having suffered a cardiac arrest in New Delhi.

The senior BJP leader was taken to AIIMS at quarter to nine in a critical condition on Tuesday evening at the country's pre-eminent medical institution, with senior BJP leaders such as Nitin Gadkari and Dr Harshvardhan going to AIIMS as well.

Sushma Swaraj had earlier in the day issued a statement on the big development regarding the Modi government scrapping Article 370 in J&K and integrating the state with India like never before.

She was one of the most well known faces in the BJP. She had declined contest Lok Sabha elections in 2019. 

The former Union Minister was best known to be accessible especially on micro-blogging platform Twitter. She was called the 'supermom' in foreign media and had become one of the most-followed politicians on Twitter.

In her second last tweet, she had congratulated Home Minister Amit Shah for moving a resolution in the Rajya Sabha for statutory revocation of Article 370. Her final tweet which was posted in the evening since where she thanked PM Modi for the integration of Kashmir. She said that she was waiting to see the day in her lifetime 
 

Tributes are pouring in for the former EAM.

Congress tweeted expressing its condolences for her loved ones.

Shashi Tharoor also tweeted saying he was saddened by the news of her demise. "Shocked & saddened by this news. I last saw Sushmaji at the PM Modi'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..."

Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, & Pralhad Joshi have also reached AIIMS, Delhi where Former External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj, passed away.

Union Minister and BJP MP from Begusarai Giriraj Singh also tweeted saying that he was pained at the news of her death.

BJP leader Kiran Bedi said she lost a dear friend.

PM Narendra Modi also condoled her demise in a series of tweets.

He spoke of her highly marking the event of her death as 'an end of a glorious chapter in politics'.

Calling her a prolific orator and outstanding Parliamentarian, he said the nation will grieve her death as she was an inspiration to all. He said that she was 'excellent administrator', and 'set high standards in every Ministry she handled'.

Rajnath Singh also tweeted on Swaraj's demise and said her contributions to the nation will be remembered

Smriti Irani left a heartfelt post on Twitter.

PM Modi has issued a statement on the passing away of Sushma Swaraj:

The President of India has issued a tweet condoling the demise of Sushma Swaraj. He has written that the country has lost a much loved leader who epitomised dignity, courage & integrity in public life.

Mamata Banerjee has said:

"Even though our ideologies differed, we shared many cordial times in Parliament", and called her an outstanding politician, leader and human being. 

Arun Jaitley has called Sushma Swaraj one of the most outstanding politicians in the present era

BJP working president JP Nadda:

Sushma Swaraj's mortal remains will be taken first to her residence and then to BJP headquarters at noon on Wednesday.

She will be given full state honours.

Former Solicitor General of India Harish Salve condoles Sushma Swaraj's demise. The former EAM had thanked him just recently when he had successfully defended Kulbhushan Jadhav at the ICJ

Sushma Swaraj's long-time colleague Ravi Shankar Prasad breaks down while condoling her demise

Rahul Gandhi extends his condolences: 

PM Modi is likely to pay his last respects to Sushma Swaraj at 8 AM