Sushma Swaraj passes away | Last rites to be performed in Delhi with full state honours, nation pays respects: Updates

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. Senior BJP leaders of the likes Nitin Gadkari and Dr Harshvardhan accompanied her to AIIMS.

Former EAM Sushma Swaraj's biography

Sushma Swaraj, before joining politics, practised law as an advocate at the Supreme Court of India in 1973, following which she joined the ABVP. Later, she went on to participate in Jayprakash Narayan's movement during the Emergency, after which she joined the newly founded BJP. In her path-breaking political career, Swaraj served as the Chief Minister of Delhi, and then, in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government, as a union minister in multiple ministries. In the first Modi government, she was appointed as the External Affairs Minister - a portfolio she redefined owing to her hands-on approach wherein she would often respond to citizens' queries on Twitter. She declined to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

PM Modi expresses condolences

PM Narendra Modi took to Twitter and expressed his sadness over 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'.

Home Minister Amit Shah expresses condolences

"I am deeply saddened by the sudden demise of former External Affairs Minister and senior BJP leader and Member of Parliamentary Board Mrs. Sushma Swaraj. She has left an indelible mark in Indian politics in various forms such as an excellent speaker, an ideal party worker, popular public representative and a working minister.

"Sushma ji, a seven-time Lok Sabha member and three-time Member of the Legislative Assembly, performed various duties in the office of Chief Minister of Delhi and the Union Cabinet. Sushma Swaraj became the voice of the BJP as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. We had a simple, straightforward leader in Sushma Swaraj.

The death of Sushma Swaraj ji is an irreparable loss to BJP and Indian politics. On behalf of all BJP workers, I express my deepest condolences to his family, supporters and well-wishers. May God bless her departed soul forever. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti."

Mourned across party lines

The Congress party mourned the loss of former Union Minister Sushma Swaraj after she passed away on Tuesday. The party expressed their grief to hear about the untimely demise of the veteran leader. Leaders of the party like Rahul Gandhi, P Chidambaram, Sachin Pilot, Ahmed Patel and Manish Tewari, Anand Sharma said they were shocked. 

Tributes pour in from foreign dignitaries

From the president of United Nations to the head of many countries to the foreign ministers & secretaries of nations across the world expressed their condolences.

India's Ambassador to the UAE Navdeep Suri too tweeted his condolences, describing Swaraj as an "inspirational leader".
"Just devastated to learn about the untimely demise of #SushmaSwaraj. She brought a rare empathy and a personal, human touch to the world of diplomacy and there is just so much that we learned from her. A truly inspirational leader," he tweeted.

Afghan mission extended condolences

The Indian envoy also recalled his post-midnight session with Swaraj in Abu Dhabi when the latter had arrived there as a 'Guest of Honour' to deliver the OIC Foreign Ministers' Conference.
"Remembering our 2 AM session with #SushmaSwaraj in Abu Dhabi on March 1. She was to speak the next morning as Guest of Honour at OIC Foreign Ministers' Conference. Arrived after midnight, plunged straight into work, got a bit of rest and delivered a truly memorable address," Suri said in another tweet.

S Rabbani, Afghanistan Foreign Affairs Minister said: "I’m saddened to hear of the untimely demise of Sushma Swaraj, former EAM of India. My deepest condolences to ppl &govt of India on the loss of a distinguished public figure who represented her country with distinction&determination."

Terming Swaraj as one of India's most respected leaders, Ambassador of France to India Alexandre Ziegler lauded her for taking Indo-French bilateral ties to "new heights".
"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," Ziegler tweeted.

Bhutan's Foreign Minister Dr Tandi Dorji also paid his tributes to the former minister.
"Deeply saddened to learn of the demise of Smt Sushma Swaraj, former External Affairs Minister of India. Our deepest condolences and sympathies to the people of India and the bereaved families. #@RuchiraKamboj," he said.

Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani also tweeted, "I'm saddened to hear of the untimely demise of @SushmaSwaraj, Senior BJP leader & former Foreign Minister of India. My deepest condolences to the people & government of India on the loss of a distinguished public figure who represented her country with distinction & determination."

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai remembered Swaraj as a tall leader and great orator. 

Maldives' Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid also recalled his "good friend" Swaraj, describing her as a warm human being and the key architect of renewing bilateral ties between the two countries.

Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper also expressed his condolences.