New Delhi | Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday gave an emotional speech while remembering former Union Minister Sushma Swaraj, who passed away last week.
Swaraj (67) passed away on August 6 at AIIMS following a cardiac arrest.
While speaking at the condolence meet organised for Swaraj at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, Prime Minister Modi said, “In any ministerial duty she held, Sushma Ji brought about a marked change in the work culture there,” he said.
Today, people from all walks of life came together to pay homage to an exceptional leader, late Sushma Swaraj Ji. She was a valued colleague and outstanding administrator who brought excellence to any responsibility she held.
India will always remember Sushma Ji’s contribution. pic.twitter.com/QhcVon6wko
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 13, 2019
“One would conventionally associate the MEA with protocol but Sushmaji went a step ahead and answered the people’s call, making the Ministry people-friendly”.
Prime Minister Modi recalled how she had agreed to fight Lok Sabha elections from Karnataka’s Bellary in 1999 against Congress’ Sonia Gandhi, even though she knew it would be a difficult battle on the Congress stronghold.
“I remember Venkaiah Naidu Ji and me going to Sushma Ji, and asking her to go to Karnataka to fight elections. The outcome was certain but she was someone who was always ready to take up challenges,” PM Modi said.
Sushma Swaraj had lost to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.
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PM Modi praised the former Minister for her excellent oratory skills and said he was both effective and inspiring.
PM Modi added that Sushma Swaraj proved the ideal ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family) through her work in MEA.
“How the MEA can fulfil the ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, she showed through the medium of the Indian diaspora spread across the world,” he said.
He said that she would always go by teachings of Bhagwan Shri Krishna.
“The depth of Sushmaji’s thought process was seen by all, at the same time, her experience also scaled new heights. The two can be made one only after rigorous practice,” the prime minister said.
The condolence meeting was also attended by Sushma Swaraj’s husband Swaraj Kaushal and her daughter Bansuri. Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP Working President JP Nadda were also present.
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