Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj died at the AIIMS here on Tuesday night following cardiac arrest, hospital sources said. She was 67.
The veteran BJP leader was brought to AIIMS in a critical condition but soon passed away, the sources said.
She had put out a tweet in the evening congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Centre's bold move to revoke special status for Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcate the border state into two Union Territories secured Parliament's approval.
"Thank you Prime Minister. Thank you very much. I was waiting to see this day in my lifetime," she said.
प्रधान मंत्री जी - आपका हार्दिक अभिनन्दन. मैं अपने जीवन में इस दिन को देखने की प्रतीक्षा कर रही थी. @narendramodi ji - Thank you Prime Minister. Thank you very much. I was waiting to see this day in my lifetime.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 6, 2019
Swaraj had a kidney transplant in 2016.
Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Prakash Javadekar and BJP Working President J.P. Nadda arrived at the hospital as they got the news.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of Sushma Swaraj, who was External Affairs Minister in his first government, lauding her services in helping Indians abroad.
"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. As a Minister we also saw her compassionate side, helping fellow Indians who were in distress in any part of the world.
"A glorious chapter in Indian politics comes to an end. India grieves the demise of a remarkable leader who devoted her life to public service and bettering lives of the poor. Sushma Swaraj Ji was one of her kind, who was a source of inspiration for crores of people," he said in a series of tweets.
BJP Working President Jagat Prakash Nadda arrives at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi where Former External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj, passed away. pic.twitter.com/nRZsrKz8DZ
— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2019
Some people come to this world and leave behind footprints for millions to follow, this world just can never be the same without them. That was Sushma Swaraj for you.
— Sonam Mahajan (@AsYouNotWish) August 6, 2019
Reacting to the abrogation of article 370, she said, “I wanted to see this day in my lifetime.” Heartbreaking!
We are deeply anguished and saddened at the sudden demise of a stellar parliamentarian, a powerful leader who empowered millions by being there for every and any Indian across the globe, former Union Minister Smt Sushma Swaraj.
— Youth Congress (@IYC) August 6, 2019
Our sincere condolences to her family. pic.twitter.com/nq6v4m2pyr
Soooo shocked to hear about the death of legendary #sushmaswaraj . Unbelievable! Shocked to the core. What a leader, what a lady !! What a monumental loss 🙏🏻🙏🏻. Respect forever. So so so saddened!! #RIPSushmaJi
— Munmun Dutta (@moonstar4u) August 6, 2019
PM Modi: A glorious chapter in Indian politics comes to an end. India grieves the demise of a remarkable leader who devoted her life to public service & bettering lives of poor. Sushma Swaraj Ji was one of her kind, who was a source of inspiration for crores of people. (File pic) pic.twitter.com/TNePQMRqdV
— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2019
