Tibetan leaders offer condolences over former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s demise
DHARAMSALA, 7 Aug: The Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama as well as the political head of the Tibetan people, Dr Lobsang Sangay have both offered their condolences over the demise of senior BJP leader and former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday due to cardiac arrest.
“I offer my prayers and my condolences to you and your family at this difficult time,” His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said in a missive addressed to Kaushal Swaraj, the husband of the late minister to express his sympathy.
The Dalai Lama has further described the late minister as a compassionate leader who devoted herself to the service of others.
“Shrimati Swaraj enjoyed immense respect for her compassionate concern for people and her friendly demeanour. In devoting herself to the service of others, she led a very meaningful life,” His Holiness concluded.
In a statement issued to condole the demise of the veteran Indian leader, President Sangay said he was deeply saddened to hear that the veteran Indian leader, a staunch supporter of Tibet is no more.
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the sudden demise of the former External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj Ji. On behalf of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and the Tibetan people, I extend my heartfelt condolence to you and your family, the Indian government and the people of India as they mourn the loss of the veteran leader,” President Sangay has said.
President Sangay further stated that the late minister was one of the prominent political leaders of her time and a leader widely admired by the people for her kind and empathetic leadership.
“As we mourn her passing, her legacy would live on and continue to be a source of inspiration for the generations to come,” he concluded.
As we mourn her passing, her legacy would live on and continue to be a source of inspiration for the generations to come”.
Politicians from across the party lines have described the Senior BJP leader and former foreign minister Sushma Swaraj as a great statesman as she touched lives of common Indians in the first Modi government.
“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,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a series of tweets.
The BJP veteran (67) passed away following a heart attack on Tuesday night at AIIMS, doctors said.
With her passing, the national capital has lost three former chief ministers in less than a year.
Swaraj, who was the chief minister of Delhi for a brief period from October-December 1998.
Sheila Dikshit, who served as the Chief Minister of Delhi for a period of 15 years from 1998 to 2013, passed away in July earlier this year. She was one of the longest-serving chief ministers of Delhi as well as the longest-serving female chief minister of any Indian state.
While Dikshit and Swaraj died within a month, Madan Lal Khurana, who was the chief minister from 1993-96, also passed away in October last year.
The Delhi government on Wednesday declared a two-day mourning in the national capital as a mark of respect for the late senior BJP leader and former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj while BJP has cancelled all their programmes scheduled for Wednesday to mourn her demise.
Former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj has been cremated with full state honours at Lodhi Crematorium earlier today in New Delhi.
