The Cabinet expresses profound sorrow atthe sad demise of Smt. Sushma Swaraj, former Union Cabinet Minister in the night of 06th August, 2019 at AIIMS. New Delhi. In her passing away, the country has lost a distinguished leader and an outstanding parliamentarian.
The following is the text of the Resolution:-
“Born on February 14, 1952 at Ambala in Haryana, Smt. Sushma Swaraj graduated from Sanatan Dharma College, Ambala Cantt. and obtained Bachelor of Law degree from Punjab University, Chandigarh. She was also conferred Honorary Doctorate by the Agriculture University, Kanpur. In 1973, she started practice as an advocate in the Supreme Court of India.
Smt. Sushma Swaraj entered public life at a young age and won election to the Haryana Legislative Assembly at the age of 25 years in 1977 and became Cabinet Minister for Labour and Employment in the State Government of Haryana. She was again elected as a member of Haryana Legislative Assembly and became the Cabinet Minister for Education, Food and Civil Supplies during the period 1987 to 1990.
In 1990, she was elected to the Rajya Sabha and in 1996, as a member of the 11th Lok Sabha when she became the Union Cabinet Minister for Information and Broadcasting. In 1998, she was again elected to the 12th Lok Sabha and held the portfolio of Union Cabinet Minister for Information and Broadcasting and also for Telecommunications as an additional charge. In October, 1998, she became the first woman Chief Minister of Delhi. Thereafter, in April, 2000, she was again elected to the Rajya Sabha and became the Minister for Information and Broadcasting from September, 2000 to January 2003 and then the Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Parliamentary Affairs from January 2003 to May 2004. In April, 2006, she was re-elected to Rajya Sabha. In 2009, she was elected as a member of the 15th Lok Sabha and became Leader of Opposition from December, 2009 to May, 2014. In 2014, she was elected to the 16th Lok Sabha. She served as Union Cabinet Minister for External Affairs from May, 2014 till May, 2019.
Smt. Sushma Swaraj will always be remembered for her exceptional oratorial skills and a compassionate approach. She was an able administrator and an affable person with humane touch who won the hearts of all by helping Indians in distress abroad. For these qualities, she was declared as “India’s best loved politician” by the US daily ‘Wall Street Journal’ in 2017.
The Cabinet places on record its appreciation of Smt. Sushma Swaraj’s services to the Nation in different capacities. The Cabinet also extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family on behalf of the Government and the entire nation.”
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