In breaking news, senior BJP leader and former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj drew her last breath at 67 at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Tuesday night after suffering a heart attack in the evening.
Sushma Swaraj was brought to AIIMS at around 10:15 PM and was straight away admitted to the emergency ward.
The senior BJP leader’s husband and other family members, including Dr Harshvardhan, Piyush Goyal, Pralhad Joshi and Nitin Gadkari, are now at AIIMS.
It should be noted that she had a kidney transplant in the year 2016 and had also opted out of contesting Lok Sabha polls previously this year for health reasons.
Sushma Swaraj was a significant connection between the government and the people. Even many political observers regarded Swaraj as a challenger to PM Narendra Modi in the first couple of months of the government.
The Congress condoled her demise and tweeted, “We are saddened to hear about the untimely demise of Smt Sushma Swaraj. Our condolences to her family and loved ones.”
Viewed as the star minister during Modi government’s first spell, Sushma Swaraj did not contest the 2019 general elections and preferred to sit out of the government on account of her health.
After PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony last month, Sushma Swaraj wrote an emotional message, thanking PM Narendra Modi for giving her the best opportunity to hold the office for 5 years.
In the tweet, Sushma Swaraj said, “Prime Minister, you gave me an opportunity to serve our countrymen and overseas Indians as the Foreign Minister for five years and personally, also, gave me respect throughout my tenure. I am very grateful to you. I pray that our government becomes very successful.”