Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj passed away on Tuesday night. She was 67.
The senior BJP leader was brought to AIIMS at 10:15 pm and was taken to the emergency ward.
She had a kidney transplant in 2016 and had opted out of contesting Lok Sabha polls earlier this year for health reasons.
Below are the updates:
4:17 PM: Former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan remembered late Sushma Swaraj as the MP who with her oratory skills and photographic memory used to make Opposition members nervous in Parliament.
3:57 PM: Bansuri Swaraj, daughter of Sushma Swaraj performs her last rites.
3:49 PM: Mortal remains of Sushma Swaraj brought to Lodhi crematorium.
3:41 PM: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi expressed sadness over the demise of Sushma Swaraj. She described her as " a lady of extraordinary gifts" and said that she had made herself accessible to even humblest of the person.
3:35 PM: Mortal remains of Sushma Swaraj being taken from BJP headquarters to Lodhi crematorium.
3:23 PM: Rajnath Singh, JP Nadda, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Piyush Goyal and other BJP leaders shoulder the mortal remains of Sushma Swaraj as they are being taken from BJP headquarters to Lodhi crematorium in Delhi.
3:01 PM: The Dalai Lama offered condolences to Sushma Swaraj. "Sushma Swaraj enjoyed immense respect for her compassionate concern for people and her friendly demeanour. In devoting herself to service of others, she led a very meaningful."
2:57 PM: Bansuri Swaraj and Swaraj Kaushal, daughter and husband of Sushma Swaraj pay salute as state honours are accorded to her.
2:36 PM: The traffic will remain affected near Lodhi Road due to the cremation of Sushma Swaraj, police said on Wednesday.
2:09 PM: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath pays tribute to Sushma Swaraj at BJP headquarters in New Delhi.
2:08 PM: BJP workers and mourners gathered in large numbers at the party headquarters to pay their last respects to Sushma Swaraj.
1:11 PM: BJP President Amit Shah and BJP Working President JP Nadda pay tribute to Sushma Swaraj at BJP headquarters.
1:06 PM: Sushma Swaraj's mortal remains reach BJP headquarter. Party leaders pay floral tributes.
12:56 PM: Mortal remains of former Sushma Swaraj being taken to BJP headquarters.
11:43 AM: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla: "Sushma Swaraj was an ambassador of the Indian culture. She was an able administrator and a sensitive leader. Today the entire country is sad to lose a leader like her. She understood everyone's problems&served them. We are standing with her family."
11:03 AM: Israeli Ambassador to India, Ron Malka offered condolences on the demise of Sushma Swaraj. "It is a great loss. She was a great friend of Israel. She played a big role in the remarkable progress in Israel-India relationship."
10:53 AM: Home Minister Amit Shah reaches the residence of Sushma Swaraj to pay tributes.
10:40 AM: Nikolay R Kudashev, Russian Ambassador to India says: "That with a feeling of deep sorrow we came to know about premature passing away of Sushma Swaraj. Please accept my deepest condolences on this irreparable loss of your predecessor, India's outstanding politician and diplomat."
10:32 AM: Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh pays tributes to Sushma Swaraj at her residence.
10:28 AM: SeniorBJP leader LK Advani pays tributes to Sushma Swaraj at her residence. His daughter Pratibha Advani gets emotional as she meets Sushma Swaraj's daughter, Bansuri.
9:48 AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently at Sushma Swaraj's residence to pay his last respects to the former foreign affairs minister. In his tweet last night, PM Modi had said that Sushma's passing away was a personal loss to him.
9:40 AM:
9:29 AM: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar condoled Sushma Swaraj for her leadership and oratory skills.
"She was a great leader, a brilliant speaker. The country will always remember the work done by her in the field of country interest and public welfare. I pray to God for the peace of the departed soul. May God give patience and courage to their families in this hour of grief," said Nitish.
9:08 AM: Senior BJP leader LK Advani says the nation has lost a remarkable leader.
"To me, it is an irreparable loss and I will miss Sushmaji’s presence immensely. May her soul rest in peace. My heartfelt condolences to Swaraj ji, Bansuri and all members of her family," he said.
9:05 AM: President Ram Nath Kovind has also arrived at Sushma Swaraj's residence to pay homage to the former foreign affairs minister, whose sudden demise has shocked the nation.
9:04 AM: Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal pays last respects to Sushma Swaraj at the latter's residence.
8:39 AM: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's press meet has been cancelled following the demise of Sushma Swaraj. Birla was supposed to hold a press meet on Wednesday.
8:37 AM: Delhi government will observe 2-day state mourning as a mark of respect in the memory of former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced Wednesday morning.
8:33 AM:
8:23 AM: Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma said that he was deeply shocked to learn of the passing away of Sushma Swaraj, former External Affairs Minister of India. "Heartfelt condolences & deepest sympathies to the Govt&people of India as well as to the bereaved family members," he said.
8:10 AM: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said she is saddened and shocked by the sudden passing away of Sushma Swaraj.
"Deeply saddened, shocked at sudden passing away of #SushmaSwaraj Ji. I knew her since the 1990s. Even though our ideologies differed, we shared many cordial times in Parliament. An outstanding politician, leader, good human being. Will miss her. Condolences to her family/admirers," Mamta said.
8:00 AM: The mortal remains of Sushma Swaraj will be kept at her residence till 11 am and then moved to the BJP headquarters in the national capital for party workers and leaders to pay their last respects.
7:46 AM: BSP supremo Mayawati paid her last respects to former foreign affairs minister Sushma Swaraj.
"Sushma Swaraj ji's demise personally saddens me. She was an able politician, administrator and a good orator. Her personality was very friendly, even with members of the opposition. I pray to nature to give her family the strength to cope with this loss," Mayawati said.
7:35 AM: Syed Akbaruddin, India’s Ambassador & Permanent Representative to the United Nations, pays tribute to former foreign affairs minister.
12:56am: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia condoles Swaraj's death, says her contribution to the national politics will be remembered forever.
"It is very sad to know about the passing away of Sushma Swaraj. May her soul rest in peace," Sisodia tweeted in Hindi.
12:55am: Her mortal remains will be kept at her residence for people to pay last respects.Around 12 pm tomorrow, her mortal remains will be brought to BJP HQ. At 3 pm she will be taken to Lodhi road crematorium, where her last rites will be performed with full state honours, says JP Nadda
12:45am: Cutting across party lines, leaders from Karnataka condoled the death of Swaraj
Former prime minister H D Devegowda tweeted, "I am deeply saddened by the sad demise of former Union minister, ex-CM of Delhi Sushma Swaraj Ji. A loss to our Nation. May God give her family the courage to bear this pain."
Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said, "Nation mourns today the loss of one of the strongest leaders and finest spokespersons India has seen. Her work as the MEA has been impeccable and as a politician she inspired many women to enter politics. May her soul rest in peace. Om Shanti."
Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy tweeted, "I'm shocked to learn about the sudden demise of Former Chief Minister of Delhi, Former Union Minister Sushma Swaraj Ji. May her soul rest in peace. My condolences to her family and loved ones."
12:40am: Former President Pranab Mukherjee: Shocked beyond words & distressed at passing away of #SushmaSwaraj. An astute parliamentarian, an effective orator&an excellent humane leader, she'll forever be remembered & missed. Hers was a story of hard work to heights.
12:35am: "Deeply saddened, shocked at the sudden passing away of Sushma Swaraj Ji.I knew her since the 1990s. Even though our ideologies differed, we shared many cordial times in Parliament. An outstanding politician, leader, good human being.Will miss her,” said West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
12:08pm: Ambassador of France to India: My heartfelt condolences to the family & loved ones of former EAM of India, Sushma Swaraj ji. One of India’s most respected leaders, she showed remarkable dedication to serving her fellow citizens & took the Indo-French relationship to new heights.
12:07pm: I’m shocked to hear about demise of Sushma Swaraj Ji, an extraordinary political leader, a gifted orator & an exceptional Parliamentarian, with friendships across party lines. My condolences to her family in this hour of grief. May her soul rest in peace: Rahul Gandhi
12:01am: Senior BJP leaders rush to AIIMS hospital in Delhi.
11:45pm: PM Narendra Modi condoles Swaraj's death, says, "A glorious chapter in Indian politics comes to an end, India grieves demise of a remarkable leader."
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