Sushma Swaraj's last rites to be performed today
New Delhi, Aug 7 (IBNS): The last rites of ex-External Affairs Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj, whose demise left the nation shocked on Tuesday, will be held on Wednesday.
She was 67.
Her body will be kept at the BJP headquarters in Delhi from 12 pm - 3 pm for people to pay tributes.
Her last rites will be held at Lodhi Crematorium later, reports said.
Swaraj died due to massive heart attack at AIIMS in New Delhi.
From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, all joined to pay tributes to the former External Affairs Minister on the social media.
The PM described her demise as a 'personal loss'.
Current External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted: "Deeply shocked to learn of the passing away of Smt Sushma Swaraj. Difficult to accept this news. The whole nation grieves, the Foreign Ministry even more so."
Deeply shocked to learn of the passing away of Smt Sushma Swaraj. Difficult to accept this news. The whole nation grieves, the Foreign Ministry even more so.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 6, 2019
Sushma Swaraj, who had won accolades from Indians staying both within the country and abroad for her strong performance as an External Affairs Minister in the first term of the Narendra Modi-led BJP government, did not contest the Lok Sabha polls this year.
The Indian government office at the United Nations on Wednesday paid unique tribute to former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
"Leaving behind indelible memories. We @IndiaUNNewYork will always cherish memories of her UN visit. Farewell Madam," tweeted Syed Akbaruddin, India's permanent representative at the United Nations.
Leaving behind indelible memories.
— Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) August 7, 2019
We @IndiaUNNewYork will always cherish memories of her @UN
Farewell Madam @SushmaSwaraj 😪 #RIPSushmaSwaraj pic.twitter.com/yEGz9KWhsc
He also tagged a video wherein Late Sushma Swaraj addresses the UN General Assembly.
External Affairs Minister Raveesh Kumar tweeted: "#TeamMEA mourns the sad demise of former External Affairs Minister #sushmaswaraj. Enjoying immense respect within the Ministry and outside, for her compassionate and amiable personality, she has left a lasting legacy for putting people at the core of Indian diplomacy."
#TeamMEA mourns the sad demise of former External Affairs Minister #sushmaswaraj. Enjoying immense respect within the Ministry and outside, for her compassionate and amiable personality, she has left a lasting legacy for putting people at the core of Indian diplomacy. pic.twitter.com/LWUyZVyz2q
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) August 7, 2019
A senior leader of Bharatiya Janata Party, Swaraj was the second woman to hold the office Ministry of External Affairs, after Indira Gandhi.
She was elected seven times as a Member of Parliament and three times as a Member of the Legislative Assembly.
At the age of 25 in 1977, she became the youngest cabinet minister of Indian state of Haryana. She also served as 5th Chief Minister of Delhi from 13 October 1998 to 3 December 1998.
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