Sushma cremated with state honours; rich tributes paid
‘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,’ says Kovind
Former Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, who passed away late Tuesday night, was cremated on Wednesday at Lodhi crematorium with full state honours.
As national leaders stood teary-eyed at the Lodhi Crematorium, Swaraj’s daughter Bansuri Swaraj and husband Swaraj Kaushal bid farewell with a salute. Political leaders across party lines visited Swaraj’s home in Jantar Mantar Road in the morning and many joined the cremation rites.
Many, including Sonia Gandhi and LK Advani’s daughter Pratibha Advani were seen hugging Bansuri Swaraj.
Before the cremation, the mortal remains of Sushma Swaraj was kept at the BJP headquarters where the party workers and many senior party leaders paid their last tributes. Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ravishankar Prasad, Piyush Goyal, BJP working president JP Nadda and other leaders even gave shoulder to mortal remains of Swaraj as they were been taken from BJP headquarters to Lodhi crematorium.
Oten called the Bharatiya Janata Party’s most humane face, Sushma Swaraj could even have been a choice for prime minister as she commanded such popularity. Sushma and Swaraj Kaushal had been couples for 47 years, ater they met while studying law in Delhi. A Supreme Court advocate, Swaraj Kaushal also served as the Governor of Mizoram in the 1990s.
Swaraj was 67 as she passed away on Tuesday night suffering a massive cardiac arrest.
Swaraj had opted out of Narendra Modi’s second cabinet due to health worries. She was rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences around 9:30pm in a critical condition. Doctors could not revive her.
“A glorious chapter in Indian politics comes to an end,” Modi said in a series of tweets. “India grieves the demise of a remarkable leader who devoted her life to public service and betering lives of the poor. Sushma Swaraj ji was one of her kind, who was a source of inspiration for crores of people.” He hailed her as a “prolific orator and outstanding parliamentarian” and said she was admired and revered across party lines.
“An excellent administrator, Sushma Ji set high standards in every ministry she handled. She played a key role in betering India’s ties with various nations. As a minister we also saw her compassionate side, helping fellow Indians,” Modi said.
Expressing shock over the demise of Swaraj, President Kovind tweeted, “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,” he said.
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said Swaraj’s death was a huge loss to the country and a personal loss to him. “She was an excellent administrator, outstanding Parliamentarian & a remarkable orator. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved family members,” he tweeted.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said Swaraj despite being a politician, kept human sensibilities paramount. “As an MP, Sushma ji set new paradigms in the country. She always kept the interests of the country foremost and gave it expression.
“I salute Sushma ji’s saintly memory. The shining sun of the India’s political horizon has set in the form of Sushma Swaraj,” he said.
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi paid their last tributes to former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Calling Swaraj’s demise ‘shocking’, Rahul tweeted, “I’m shocked to hear about the demise of Sushma Swaraj Ji, an extraordinary political leader, a gited 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.” Former president Pranab Mukherjee tweeted, “Shocked beyond words and distressed at the passing away of Smt Sushmaswaraj. An astute parliamentarian, an effective orator & an excellent humane leader, she will forever be remembered and missed. Hers was a story of hard work to heights. My deepest condolences and prayers.” Home Minister Amit Shah said she let an indelible mark in national politics. Describing her as a simple and rare politician, he said she was a strong voice of the BJP when it was in the opposition and let an indelible mark as a minister.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described Swaraj as an extremely valued colleague, while Union minister Nitin Gadkari said her passing away was a personal loss for him, the BJP and the country.