Nation bids final adieu to former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj

Pic courtesy: ANI

NEW DELHI: The sudden demise of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stalwart and popular leader Sushma Swaraj has sent shockwaves across the country. After the former external affairs minister breathed her last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, tributes poured in for her.

After her death at around 9 pm on Tuesday, her mortal remains were taken to her residence in Dhawan Deep Building in Janpath area where people paid their last respects. Her mortal remains were then taken to the BJP headquarters where party members paid tributes. Her last rites were held at Lodhi Road electric crematorium.

07 August 2019

16:28 PM

BJP stalwart Sushma Swaraj's mortal remains cremated with full state honours.

16:04 PM

Leaders pay final tribute to Sushma Swaraj.

15:50 PM

Sushma Swaraj's daughter, Bansuri Swaraj, performs the last rites.

Delhi: Bansuri Swaraj, daughter of former External Affairs Minister #SushmaSwaraj, performs her last rites pic.twitter.com/ymj82SjG1i

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2019

15:30 PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, JP Nadda, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ashok Gehlot, among several other leaders across party lines present at the Lodhi Road electric crematorium.

15:20 PM

I offer my prayers and condolences at this difficult time. Sushma Swaraj enjoyed immense respect for her compassionate concern for people&her friendly demeanour. In devoting herself to service of others, she led a very meaningful life: The Dalai Lama 

The Dalai Lama on #SushmaSwaraj: I offer my prayers & my condolences at this difficult time. Sushma Swaraj enjoyed immense respect for her compassionate concern for people&her friendly demeanour. In devoting herself to service of others, she led a very meaningful life.(File pics) pic.twitter.com/6HILHPjvRH

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2019

15:19 PM

Mortal remains of late BJP stalwart Sushma Swaraj are being taken for last rites.

15:17 PM

Bansuri Swaraj and Swaraj Kaushal, daughter and husband of former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, pay salute as state honours are accorded to her.

Bansuri Swaraj and Swaraj Kaushal, daughter and husband of former External Affairs Minister #SushmaSwaraj, pay salute as state honours are accorded to her pic.twitter.com/cbQqvsm9G3

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2019

14:35 PM

AIIMS doctors administered CPR twice on Sushma Swaraj, but failed to revive her - READ FULL REPORT

14:23 PM

We called her ‘didi’ and today she is no more with us. She was a mother, a sister, a huge politician and a great orator as well. She did a lot for the country, especially for the poor. We have lost a great, honest and a remarkable leader, says BJP leader Jaya Prada.

13:52 PM

Senior advocate Harish Salve said that he had a conversation with Sushma Swaraj just 10 minutes before she had a cardiac arrest. Speaking to ANI, Salve said, "For me, Sushma Swaraj ji was an elder sister. I was simply stunned yesterday on hearing about her demise. At 8:45 pm I had a talk with her. She said 'you have to come and take your fees of Re 1 for Jadhav case'. Just 10 minutes post that, she had cardiac arrest." READ FULL STORY

13:13 PM

BJP members, including president Amit Shah and working president JP Nadda, pay tribute to Sushma Swaraj at party headquarters

BJP President Amit Shah and BJP Working President JP Nadda pay tribute to #SushmaSwaraj at party headquarters pic.twitter.com/yS3g6TX3bz

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2019

12:41 PM

Chinese Ambassador to India, Sun Weidong, "Sad to learn about the passing away of Sushma Swaraj, former Minister of External Affairs of India. Appreciate her contributions to China-India relations. Express my deep condolences to her family."

12:41 PM

Delhi: Mortal remains of former External Affairs Minister #SushmaSwaraj being taken to BJP headquarters pic.twitter.com/Uv4VE33jIT

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2019

12:31 PM

Sushma Swaraj's mortal remains being taken to BJP headquarters from her residence.

11:30 AM

Senior BJP leader LK Advani and his daughter Pratibha Advani break down as they meet Sushma Swaraj's husband Swaraj Kaushal and daughter Bansuri.

#WATCH Delhi: Senior BJP leader LK Advani and his daughter Pratibha Advani break down as they meet #SushmaSwaraj's husband Swaraj Kaushal and their daughter Bansuri. pic.twitter.com/EogClO6dei

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2019

11:10 AM

Haryana Government to observe two-day State mourning in honour of Sushma Swaraj.

11:07 AM

Rajya Sabha pays homage to Sushma Swaraj.

10:54 AM

Home Minister Amit Shah says Sushma Swaraj's untimely demise is a very sad moment for the Indian politics. Speaking to mediapersons, Shah said that all BJP workers, including him, were in grief. He further said that Sushma excelled in all roles - Delhi CM, Leader of Opposition, External Affairs Minister, adding the void will not be filled anytime soon.

10:50 AM

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi pay their last respects to Sushma Swaraj:

Delhi: Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh pays last respects to former External Affairs Minister and BJP leader #SushmaSwaraj. pic.twitter.com/SQrggyllgE

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2019

Delhi: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi pays last respects to former External Affairs Minister and BJP leader #SushmaSwaraj. pic.twitter.com/ClIM64WNMi

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2019

10:05 AM

Veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani pays his last respects at Swarai residence, meets the late minister's family members. 

09:49 AM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays his last respects to Sushma Swaraj at her residence.

09:43 AM

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia pay last respects to the BJP stalwart:

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia pay last respects to former External Affairs Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj, at her residence in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/Esyqe37zM0

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2019

09:42 AM

BJP national working president JP Nadda pays last respect to Sushma Swaraj:

Delhi: BJP national working president JP Nadda pays last respect to former External Affairs Minister & BJP leader #SushmaSwaraj, at her residence. She passed away last night due to cardiac arrest. pic.twitter.com/h0K5FGxbYP

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2019

09:41 AM

Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav gets emotional after paying tribute to former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj

Delhi: Samajwadi Party leader, Ram Gopal Yadav gets emotional after paying tribute to former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. pic.twitter.com/P7AKvxm5i2

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2019

09:20 AM

All programmes of the BJP, scheduled for Wednesday, have been cancelled. The mortal remains of the political stalwart will be brought to BJP headquarters at noon, tweets party's working president JP Nadda.

हमारी वरिष्ठ नेत्री @SushmaSwaraj जी के आकस्मिक निधन से भाजपा परिवार का प्रत्येक सदस्य शोकाकुल और स्तब् धहै।
आज @BJP4India के सभी कार्यक्रम स्थगित कर दिए गए। सुषमा जी का पार्थिव शरीर अंतिम दर्शन के लिए आज 12 बजे भाजपा मुख्यालय पर लाया जाएगा।

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) August 7, 2019

09:14 AM

Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind pays last tribute to former External Affairs Minister & Bharatiya Janata Party leader #SushmaSwaraj, at her residence. pic.twitter.com/7IAj9WINol

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2019

09:13 AM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to reach at 9.30 pm to pay his last respects to the BJP stalwart.

08:57 AM

BJP leaders Hema Malini, Ravi Kishan, Manoj Tiwari and Anurag Thakur, among others, pay tribute to Sushma Swaraj at her residence.

08:56 AM

India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin, says Sushma Swaraj left behind "indelible memories". He took to Twitter to share a video on the former external affairs minister's memories from the UN.

Leaving behind indelible memories.

We @IndiaUNNewYork will always cherish memories of her @UN

Farewell Madam @SushmaSwaraj #RIPSushmaSwaraj pic.twitter.com/yEGz9KWhsc

— Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) August 7, 2019

08:31 AM

Yoga guru Ramdev reaches the late External Affairs Minister's home to pay his last respect, meets family. 

08:26 AM

Condolences poured in from international leaders, many of whom fondly remembered her as a tall leader and "a fine advocate for her nation."

08:22 AM

Delhi government has announced two-day state mourning as a mark of respect for Sushma Swaraj, who served as the first woman chief minister of the national capital.

08:21 AM

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla`s press meet cancelled following the demise of former External Affair Minister Sushma Swaraj.

07:53 AM

Soon after the news of her sudden demise reached her home town Ambala Cantt in Haryana, people from across the town converged outside her native residence.

07:52 AM

In the last one year, Delhi has lost three of its former chief ministers – Madan Lal Khurana, Sheila Dikshit and Sushma Swaraj.

07:51 AM

President Ram Nath Kovind to pay his last respects to Sushma Swaraj at 8.15 am. Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to visit her residence at 8.30 am.