New Delhi: Describing former Union Minister and BJP veteran Sushma Swaraj as an extraordinary parliamentarian and gifted orator, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said he was deeply saddened by the untimely demise of the former Union Minister.

In a condolence letter addressed to Swaraj's husband Swaraj Kaushal, Rahul Gandhi acknowledged the promptness of Sushma Swaraj in helping those in need, during her tenure as the External Affairs Minister.

“I am deeply saddened by the untimely demise of your wife, Smt. Sushma Swaraj Ji. We have lost an extraordinary Parliamentarian and a gifted orator,” he said in the letter.

“In her stint as the External Affairs Minister, her responsiveness and compassion for people in need, won her the respect if people around the world.  Even her personal ailments did not diminish her public spiritedness,” he said.

Rahul said that the legacy of former EAM will live on and continue to touch the life of millions of Indians.

“You and your daughter Bansuri are in my thoughts and prayers in this difficult time. Sushma Ji’s legacy will live on and continue to touch the life of millions of Indians.”

“I wish you peace and courage in this hour of grief,” he stated in the concluding line of the letter.

Earlier in the day, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi also wrote a letter to Swaraj Kaushal to express her grief and said that she shared a warm personal relationship with her and felt her loss greatly.

The mortal remains of Swaraj were consigned to flames on Wednesday at the Lodhi Road crematorium in New Delhi.

Hundreds of people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and veteran party leader L K Advani bade her farewell.

Swaraj, who also served as the Leader of Opposition and chief minister of Delhi, was given full state honours after which her body was cremated in the electric crematorium.