Sushma Swaraj passes away at 67; mortal remains to be kept at BJP HQ\, last rites at 3 pm today | Updates

Sushma Swaraj passes away; PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal pay tributes, last rites at 3 pm today | Updates

The last rites of Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will be performed at 3 pm today at Lodhi crematorium. Her mortal remains will be kept at the BJP headquarters for 3 hours before Sushma Swaraj embarks on her final journey. Grief struck the nation late on Tuesday soon after the news of Sushma Swaraj's death came. Top political leaders paid their tributes to Sushma Swaraj and remembered her honour as a Union Minister.

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PM Narendra Modi pays tributes to Sushma Swaraj

Former Union Minister Sushma Swaraj passed away late Tuesday at Delhi's AIIMS after she had suffered a massive cardiac arrest. Her mortal remains will be kept at the BJP headquarters for three hours on Wednesday, for party workers and leaders to pay tributes. The last rites of Sushma Swaraj will be performed at the Lodhi crematorium at 3 pm today. 

Here are the Updates:

11:14 am: Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and members of the House pay tribute to former EAM Sushma Swaraj

11:13 am: Express grief over the sudden demise of former Union Minister and veteran political leader Sushma Swaraj. It's difficult to fill the space left by her. I pray for peace to departed soul and strength to the bereaved family in their hour of grief, says Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik

11:07 am: Rahul Gandhi pays last respects to former External Affairs Minister and BJP leader Sushma Swaraj

11:04 am: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik condoles the death of former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. "Deeply saddened by the sudden demise of Sushma Swarajji . She was a warm, respected and a learned leader. She was known to take personal interest even in smallest of people's problem. Her departure has left a void in Indian politics. My heartfelt condolences to her family," tweeted Patnaik.

11:01 am: An artist from Uttar Pradesh's Amroha, Mohammad Zuhaib, pays his last respects to former External Affairs Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj by making a charcoal portrait

India Tv - An artist pays tribute to Sushma Swaraj

Image Source : ANI

An artist pays tribute to Sushma Swaraj

10:59 am: Delhi: Senior BJP leader LK Advani pays tributes to former EAM Sushma Swaraj at her residence. His daughter Pratibha Advani gets emotional as she meets Sushma Swaraj's daughter, Bansuri

10:58 am: Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh pays last respects to former External Affairs Minister and BJP leader Sushma Swaraj

10:56 am: 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, says Nikolay R Kudashev, Russian Ambassador to India

10:50 am: Haryana Government will observe a 2-day state mourning in honour of senior BJP leader and former External Affairs Minister

10:33 am: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi pays last respects to former External Affairs Minister and BJP leader Sushma Swaraj 

10:16 am: Union Home Minister Amit Shah pays last respects to former External Affairs Minister and BJP leader Sushma Swaraj

10:01 am: Israeli Ambassador to India, Ron Malka pays last respects to former External Affairs Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader

India Tv - Israeli Ambassador to India, Ron Malka pays tribute to Sushma Swaraj

Image Source : ANI

Israeli Ambassador to India, Ron Malka pays tribute to Sushma Swaraj

09:58 am: 

09:52 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute to former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj 

India Tv - PM Narendra Modi pays tribute to Sushma Swaraj

Image Source : INDIA TV

PM Narendra Modi pays tribute to Sushma Swaraj

09:49 am: Vice-President, M Venkaiah Naidu pays last respects to Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj, in Delhi

09:46 am: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia pay last respects to former External Affairs Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj

09:31 am: Samajwadi Party leader, Ram Gopal Yadav gets emotional after paying tribute to former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj

09:04 am: Delhi government has declared a two-day mourning in the national capital as a mark of respect for senior BJP leader and former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who passed away on Tuesday

08:54 am: Yog guru Ramdev pays last tribute to former External Affairs Minister and BJP leader Sushma Swaraj at her residence

08:49 am: Bharatiya Janata Party leader Hema Malini pays tribute to former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, at her residence in Delhi

08:34 am: Kerala's former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy pays last tribute to former External Affairs Minister and BJP leader Sushma Swaraj

08:09 am: Deeply saddened, shocked at sudden passing away of Sushma Swaraj ji. I knew her since 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, says West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. 

08:05 am: TMC MP Derek O'Brien and Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi pay last respect to former External Affairs Minister and BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, at her residence in Delhi

08:02 am: Deeply shocked to learn of the passing away of Sushma Swaraj, a senior political leader of India and former External Affairs Minister. Heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to the Govt and people of India as well as to the bereaved family members, says PM of Nepal, KP Sharma Oli

07:54 am: President Ram Nath Kovind to pay tributes to Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at 8:50 am today

07:46 am: Home Minister Amit Shah to pay tributes to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at 8:30 am today 

07:29 am: 

07:25 am: The diplomatic community in Delhi joins the nation in sorrow on the sad demise of a great woman in Indian politics. During her tenure as Foreign Minister, she strengthened the position of India in the world, says Dean of Diplomatic Corps, Hans Dannenberg Castellanos

07:21 am: 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 opposition. I pray to nature to give her family the strength to cope with this loss, says Mayawati

07:18 am: BSP chief Mayawati pays last respects to former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the latter's residence in Delhi

A pall of gloom descended at the hospital as the news of her death left everyone in shock.

A host of Union ministers and other senior party leaders visited AIIMS and met the bereaved family of the former external affairs minister.

Among those who visited Sushma Swaraj at the hospital were Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, Environment Minster Prakash Javadekar, HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal and Union Minister Smriti Irani. 

Expressing grief over her demise, Union Minister JP Nadda said, "Her loss is irreparable and the void left by her can never be filled. It's a huge loss to the party and the nation."

The body was later taken to her residence in New Delhi.

Nadda told reporters the body will be kept at the party headquarters from 12-3 pm for people to pay respects on Wednesday after which it will be taken to Lodhi Crematorium for the last rites.

Talking to reporters, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "We used to address her as 'didi' and the respect she commanded was phenomenal. She was fine in the morning and then suddenly we got this news. It is a painful loss for me and for the nation." 

Senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain also grieved the loss, saying Swaraj had guided him in his career and "she was a leader liked by everyone, from the ruling to the opposition parties".

Her contribution in the external affairs ministry is substantial as she left a mark in the field, he said. 

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Video: Former EAM Sushma Swaraj passes away, top leaders mourn her death

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