Sushma Swaraj – The “Mother of Ballari”
Sushma Swaraj being one of the best speakers, a highly talented artiste and had deep leaning towards public life as a student of Bachelor of Law (LLB), her professor at the Law Department of the Panjab University D N Jauhar said.
The Reason behind calling Sushma Swaraj the “Mother of Ballari”
Sushma Swaraj had a bond of sorts with Karnataka ever since she contested against Congress President Sonia Gandhi in what turned out to be a “big battle” in Ballari Lok Sabha constituency in 1999. A traditional stronghold of Congress till then, Swaraj lost the election by over 50,000 votes. But that did not discourage her from visiting Ballari in the backward Hyderabad-Karnataka region, where she made many friends. She made it a point to come to Ballari every year for over a decade thereafter to celebrate “Varamahalakshmi Vrata”. Swaraj also learned Kannada so carefully that she used to address public meetings in the language. In fact, even in later years she used to speak in Kannada whenever she used to meet Kannada leaders.
“She was a genuine “people’s person” in Government”
– Shashi Tharoor, Congress leader
“The Nation has lost an able administrator, an effective parliamentarian and a true voice of the people. She always dreamt of an India at its highest glory.”
– M Venkaiah Naidu
“I have an axe to grind with you Didi . You made Bansuri pick a restaurant to take me for a celebratory lunch. You left without fulfilling your promise to the two of us.”
– Smriti Irani, BJP leader
Sonia Gandhi expresses her grievances to Sushma Swaraj’s husband.
The body will be kept at the party headquarters till 3pm for people to pay their respects, after which it will be taken to the Lodhi Crematorium for the last rites.
“Sad to learn about the passing away of #SushmaSwaraj, former Minister of External Affairs of India. Appreciate her contributions to China-India relations. Express my deep condolences to her family”: said Chinese ambassador to India Sun Weidong.
“I have fond memories of my association with her when she was Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha,” Singh said in his condolence message.”, said former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
“We called her ‘didi’ & today she is no more with us. She was a mother, a sister, a huge politician & a great orator as well. She did a lot for the country, especially for the poor. We have lost a great, honest & a remarkable leader.”
Jaya Prada, BJP
“Sushma Ji will always be remembered for her exceptional service to the nation”: PM Modi told Swaraj Kaushal
“For me, Sushma Swaraj ji was an elder sister. I was simply stunned yesterday on hearing about her demise. At 8:45pm, I had a talk with her. She said, ‘you have to come & take your fees of Re1 for Jadhav case.’ Just 10 minutes after that, she had cardiac arrest.”
Harish Salve, senior advocate
BJP workers, supoporters assemble in large numbers at party office
BJP workers and mourners on Wednesday gathered in large numbers at the party headquarters on Wednesday to pay their last respects to Sushma Swaraj, experienced leader, former external affairs minister and also “didi” for many.
Some cried wretchedly and others fought back their tears as top party leaders, including BJP president Amit Shah and working president J P Nadda, covered Swaraj’s body with the national flag and paid their tributes.
“Jab tak suraj chand rahega didi tera naam rahega”: The crows chanted. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also paid tribute to Sushma Swaraj at the BJP headquarters.
