New Delhi: The untimely demise of former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj comes as one of the most shocking news of the recent times. While the entire Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in a mourning state, Swaraj's sudden demise has triggered a wave of shock and grief even among leaders across different party lines. Swaraj was one of the most prolific politicians of India, who brought a rare empathy and a human approach to the nation's diplomacy. Remembering her contributions to the Indian political landscape, leaders from different political ideologies have come forward and termed Swaraj as a charismatic, dynamic leader and a woman of grit.


The 67-year-old veteran BJP leader took her last breath on Tuesday evening as she suffered a major cardiac arrest and passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Science in New Delhi. As soon as the news of her sudden demise came into lights, condolences from across the country started pouring in.

What made Swaraj stand out of the lot was the fact that she would respond to every appeal for assistance, and make sure the Indian missions responded to the requests. In this way she gave the human touch to the Ministry of External Affairs, and won millions of admirers across the world, including many in Pakistan.

Many Pakistani patients would appeal to her for medical visas via twitter, and Sushma would try to accommodate their requests. She would also connect with some of the Pakistanis who she helped get emergency medical visas. In 2017, she won admiration when she granted a year-long medical visa to a Pakistani girl Shireen Shiraz for an open heart surgery.

Not just leaders from BJP such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP veteran leader LK Advani and others expressed grief on Swaraj's death, many of her political Opponents including leaders from Congress, Trinamool Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi Party and others too condoled the demise of the people's minister.

Here's a look at how leaders from Opposition parties reacted to the news of Sushma Swaraj's demise:
















Swaraj, as external affairs minister, brought a sense of assertiveness in India's diplomacy and was known for her prompt response on Twitter to address grievances of overseas Indians. Swaraj’s body will be kept at residence in the national capital and will then be taken to the BJP headquarters on Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg. The last rites will be performed at the Lodhi crematorium.