Sushma Swaraj cremated with full state honours

18:49 August 07

A look at Sushma Swaraj's political journey

She was the first woman Chief Minister of Delhi

In her political career spanning over five decades, Sushma Swaraj got the credit of being the first on many counts.

She was the first full-time woman External Affairs Minister (2014-19). Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi headed the Ministry for a short span multiple times. She was also Delhi's first woman Chief Minister.

Sushma Swaraj was also the first woman Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha -- between 2009 and 2014.

She entered politics when few women did so. She was not only the first woman spokesperson in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but also in any national party.  

16:35 August 07

Sushma Swaraj cremated with full State honours

Former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj was cremated with State honours at the Lodhi Crematorium in Delhi.

Her last rites were performed by her daughter Bansuri Swaraj, as her husband Swaraj Kaushal stood beside his daughter.

Several politicians from various parties and foreign dignitaries attended the ceremony, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and veteran BJP leader LK Advani.

15:53 August 07

PM Modi, Ex-Bhutan PM at Lodhi crematorium

PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and former Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay at Lodhi crematorium.

15:17 August 07

Sushma Swaraj's last journey has started

Rajnath Singh, JP Nadda, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Piyush Goyal & other BJP leaders give shoulder to mortal remains of Sushma Swaraj as they are being taken from BJP headquarters to Lodhi crematorium in Delhi.

14:58 August 07

Husband, daughter salutes Swaraj

Husband, daughter salutes Swaraj

Bansuri Swaraj and Swaraj Kaushal, daughter and husband of Sushma Swaraj, salute as state honours are accorded to her.

14:56 August 07

Former MEA being wrapped in national flag

Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj wrapped in tricolour at BJP headquarters in Delhi.

13:24 August 07

Mortal remains of Swaraj reaches BJP headquarters

Mortal remains of Swaraj reaches BJP headquarters.

BJP President Amit Shah and BJP Working President JP Nadda paid tribute to Sushma Swaraj at party headquarters along with many other BJP leaders.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also paid homage to former Union Minister.

12:47 August 07

Mortal remains of Swaraj taken to BJP headquarters

Mortal remains of former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj being taken to BJP headquarters

11:49 August 07

Swaraj body to reach BJP headquarters

The mortal remains of former MEA will be brought to the BJP headquarters at 12 noon on Wednesday.

She will be laid to rest at Lodhi road crematorium by 3 pm.

01:20 August 07

BJP leaders pay tributes

Several leaders arrive at Swaraj's residence

BJP leaders Anurag Thakur, Babul Supriyo, & Manoj Tiwari pay tribute to former External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj, at her residence in Delhi.

00:38 August 07

Mortal remains being taken to her residence

Sushma Swaraj's 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.

00:13 August 07

Mortal remains of Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will be taken from AIIMS to her Delhi residence and will be kept there tonight.

23:32 August 06

Sushma Swaraj thanked PM Modi in her last Tweet

In her last Twitter post, Swaraj thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the government’s move on Jammu and Kashmir, saying that she was waiting for this day in her lifetime. 

22:43 August 06

Sushma Swaraj to be cremated with full state honours

New Delhi:Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj died at the AIIMS here on Tuesday night following cardiac arrest, hospital sources said. She was 67.

The veteran BJP leader was brought to AIIMS in a critical condition after suffering a heart attack but soon passed away, the sources said.

Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Prakash Javadekar, and Harsh Vardhan, and BJP Working President J.P. Nadda arrived at the hospital as they got the news.

Leaders from across the political spectrum condoled the death of Sushma Swaraj, who had also been the first woman Chief Minister of Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that a "glorious period in Indian politics" had ended and recalled her efforts as External Affairs Minister in his first government in helping any Indians abroad in any trouble.

"An excellent administrator, Sushma Ji set high standards in every Ministry she handled. She played a key role in bettering India's ties with various nations. As a Minister we also saw her compassionate side, helping fellow Indians who were in distress in any part of the world.

"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," he said in a series of tweets.

Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted: Sushma Swaraj Ji's death is an irreparable loss to BJP and Indian politics.

"A sharp orator, an ideal worker, a beloved people's leader and a hard working minister, she has left an indelible mark on Indian politics through her many roles," Shah added.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, former Uttar Pradesh chief ministers Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati, were among those who condoled her death. 

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said: "She would call me her brother... I have lost my sister today. Her sudden demise is a shock. She was a great leader. I pray to the almighty that her soul rests in peace." 

An emotional Union Minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said: "Her last tweet on Article 370 makes me emotional. It's a great loss."

Condolences also poured in from foreign leaders on the death of the former External Affairs Minister.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid were among those who condoled her demise. 

Sushma Swaraj did not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections citing poor health conditions. 

Know more about Sushma Swaraj:

• Sushma Swaraj was born on February 14, 1952 at Ambala cantonment to Shri Hardev Sharma and Shrimati Laxmi Devi.
• Swaraj, who began her political career with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in the 1970s, was a six-time MP, and a three-time MLA - twice from Haryana and once from Delhi.
• In 1977, she became the youngest Cabinet Minister in India, after she was sworn in as the Cabinet Minister in Haryana. She held eight portfolios from 1977 to 1979 including Social Welfare, Labour and Employment.
• She was the first woman external affairs minister of the country. Indira Gandhi, though, as prime minister had held the portfolio. As the external affairs minister, she struck a universal chord with her social media presence, and her timely responses.
• Her riveting speeches, grasp on issues and image of an ideal Indian woman marked her out for a bigger role at a very young age, and she steadily climbed up the organisational ladder in the Bharatiya Janata Party.
• She was the Information and Broadcasting Minister in the 13-day Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1996 and got the Cabinet portfolio again after he led the BJP to power in 1998.
• However, she had to resign to become Delhi chief minister as the party leadership believed she could lead the BJP to power in the national capital when the incumbent was seen as unpopular.
• Long seen as a protege of veteran BJP leader L K Advani, she also was the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha between 2009-14.