Former foreign minister Sushma Swaraj passes away
Former foreign minister Sushma Swaraj was cremated with full state honours at the Lodhi crematorium in Delhi. Swaraj passed away late 6th August night after suffering a cardiac arrest. Her daughter, Bansuri Swaraj performed the last rites.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with other prominent leaders paid last respect to former Swaraj. After paying tribute to the late leader at her residence, PM Modi got emotional as he condoled the family of the deceased. “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,” PM Modi said, leading the nation in paying her tribute.
Sushma Swaraj, who served as the External Affairs Minister in the Modi-led BJP government during 2014-2019, opted out of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and was left out of the new Cabinet. She remained politically senior to every important position-holder in the current BJP government. She was the country’s first full-time woman Foreign Minister.
Sushma Swaraj Career:
Sushma Swaraj was educated at Sanatan Dharma College in Ambala Cantonment. She earned a bachelor’s degree with majors in Sanskrit and Political Science. She studied law at Punjab University, Chandigarh.
Political Career:
Swaraj’s political career started at her age of 25 in 1977. She became the youngest cabinet minister in Haryana in 1977. She served as the 5th Chief Minister of Delhi from 13th October to 3rd December 1998. She was a seven-time Member of Parliament. She served as MLA for three terms.
Sushma Swaraj won from Vidisha constituency in Madhya Pradesh for a second term in 2014. Swaraj took charge as Foreign Minister on 26th May, 2014. After Indira Gandhi, she was the second woman to hold the External Affairs Ministry. She was popularly known as the People’s Minister. She introduced a new sensitivity and sensibility in the functioning of the External Affairs Ministry.