NEW DELHI, Aug 6: Former External Affairs Minister and senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj passed away on Tuesday night, AIIMS sources said. She was 67.

The senior BJP leader was brought to AIIMS around 9:30pm and was straight away taken to the emergency ward.

AIIMS doctors said she died of a cardiac arrest.

“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.

Several senior ministers, including Harsh Vardhan, Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani Prakash Javadekar, reached AIIMS after she was admitted to the hospital.

Swaraj had put out a tweet in the evening congratulating Prime Modi after the Center’s move to revoke special status for Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcate the border state into two Union Territories secured Parliament’s approval.

“Narendra Modi ji – Thank you Prime Minister. Thank you very much. I was waiting to see this day in my lifetime,” she had said.

Prime Minister Modi, in his tweets, hailed Swaraj as a “prolific orator and outstanding parliamentarian” and said she was admired and revered across party lines.

“She was uncompromising when it came to matters of ideology and interests of the BJP, whose growth she immensely contributed to,” Modi said.

“An excellent administrator, Sushma Ji set high standards in every Ministry she handled. She played a key role in bettering India’s ties with various nations. As a minister we also saw her compassionate side, helping fellow Indians who were in distress in any part of the world,” he said.

“Extremely shocked to hear of the passing of Smt Sushma Swaraj. The country has lost a much loved leader who epitomized dignity, courage & integrity in public life. Ever willing to help others, she will always be remembered for her service to the people of India,” President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said he was deeply shocked and anguished by the sudden demise of an extremely valued colleague.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, “Deeply shocked to learn of the passing away of Smt Sushma Swaraj. Difficult to accept this news. The whole nation grieves, the Foreign Ministry even more so.”

The Congress condoled her demise.

“We are saddened to hear about the untimely demise of Smt Sushma Swaraj. Our condolences to her family and loved ones,” the party said.

“I’m shocked to hear about the demise of Sushma Swaraj Ji, an extraordinary political leader, a gifted orator & an exceptional Parliamentarian, with friendships across party lines. My condolences to her family in this hour of grief. May her soul rest in peace. Om Shanti,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Twitter.

Swaraj had a kidney transplant in 2016 and had opted out of contesting Lok Sabha polls earlier this year for health reasons.

She is survived by her husband Swaraj Kaushal and daughter Bansuri. PTI

KATHMANDU, July 3: Over thousands of Kailash Mansoravar bound Indian pilgrims have been stranded in Humla district due to bad weather.

They were stranded after the flights to and fro the hilly and mountainous regions were canceled due to incessant rain and bad weather.

Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj has initiated the rescue efforts.

“Indian pilgrims stranded in Nepal- There are about 525 pilgrims stranded in Simikot, 550 in Hilsa and another 500 in Tibet side,” tweeted Swaraj.

“Indian Embassy in Nepal has deployed representatives in Nepalgunj and Simikot. They are in touch with the pilgrims and ensuring that food and lodging facilities are available to all the pilgrims,” she tweeted.

Indian pilgrims stranded in Nepal – There are about 525 pilgrims stranded in Simikot, 550 in Hilsa and another 500 in Tibet side. /1 #IndiansStrandedInNepal

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) 3 July 2018

Indian Embassy in Nepal has deployed representatives in Nepalganj and Simikot. They are touch with the pilgrims and ensuring that food and lodging facilities are available to all the pilgrims. /2 #IndiansStrandedInNepal

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) 3 July 2018

Swaraj further said that health camps have been set up in the Simikot for elderly pilgrims to undergo heath check-up and to provide other medical assistance.

She also said that the Indian Embassy has requested the Government of Nepal for army helicopters to evacuate the stranded Indian nationals.

According to News18, a 55-year-old pilgrim has died of cardiac arrest caused by low oxygen on Monday.

However, the evacuation has not been an option currently due to inclement weather, according to the Embassy.

KATHMANDU, Feb 1: CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has held one-to-one meeting at Soaltee Crowne Plaza on Thursday.

During the meeting, the two leaders discussed on the bilateral ties between the two countries and formation of new government, according to Oli’s secretariat. Swaraj, in the meeting, said that the Indian government is willing to work with the new government under the left alliance.

Swaraj arrived in Kathmandu at 4 pm today afternoon for her two-day visit to Nepal. Talking to media persons upon arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport Swaraj said that she had not come to Nepal with any special agenda but to only meet everyone. She added that such exchange of visits would also make the relations between the two countries cordial.

KATHMANDU, Feb 1: Indian External Minister Sushma Swaraj has arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday for her two-day visit. She landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport at 4 pm today afternoon.

She is leading a three-member deligation Bijaya Keshar Gokhle, External Affairs Secretary and Raveesh Kumar, Spokesperson of the Ministry, External Affairs.

State Minister for Finance Udaya Shumsher Rana, Indian Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri among others  reached the TIA to receive Swaraj.

It’s her seventh visit to Nepal since she assumed her office in 2014. She will stay at Soaltee Crowne Plaza. CPN-UML Chair Oli is hosting a dinner in her honor. She will also hold talks with Oli amid the dinner party, according UML leader Subash Nembang.

Leaders of Madhes-centric parties will also meet the visiting minister tonight, said Rastriya Janata Party leader Keshav Jha.

Likewise, Swaraj is scheduled to visit President Bidya Devi Bhandari at 12 pm on Friday. After than she will meet Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal separately before wrapping her two-day visit. She will return to India  at 4 pm tomorrow.

KATHMANDU, Feb 1: Indian External Minister Sushma Swaraj is scheduled to arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport at 3:30 pm today for her two day visit.

It is the first ever diplomatic engagement since the completion of recent elections in Nepal.

After landing in Kathmandu, Swaraj will reach Soaltee Crowne Plaza, where would be prime minister, CPN-UML Chair KP Oli will host a dinner her honor. According to sources, the visiting minister will held one-to-one talk with Oli.

She is scheduled to meet CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday morning. Then she will call on President Bidya Devi Bhandari. She is also scheduled to meet Madhes-centric parties.

She will pay courtesy visit to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba later in the afternoon before leaving for New Delhi at 4:00 pm.

RISHI DHAMALA, KATHMANDU, Jan 31: As the left alliance is preparing to form a new government–which CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli is most likely to lead–External Minister of India Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Nepal, who is due to arrive on a two-day visit on Thursday, has been interpreted as a cautious advance from the southern neighbor to revive the bilateral ties.

Swaraj coming to Nepal will be the first diplomatic engagement after the recently concluded House of Representatives and Province Assembly election, after which the left alliance constituting of CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) rose to power. During her visit, Swaraj will call on top political leaders—Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Oli and Maoist Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.

“In keeping with the tradition of regular high-level political exchanges between India and Nepal, and reflects the expanding bilateral partnership and the importance that the two countries attach to further strengthening it across diverse sectors,” said the Indian External Affairs Ministry in a release on Monday.

Her visit to Nepal—at the initiative of India itself–has been seen as India’ policy to engage the new government and give message of expanding the bilateral partnership further in the backdrop of UML, the largest party, announcing to enhance connectivity with China including One Belt One Road project. Oli, during his stint as the Prime Minister of Nepal in 2015, signed several agreements with China including trade and transit deals, which aimed at ending India’s monopoly over the Nepali market. Oli, along with some senior leaders also visited Rasuwagadhi transit point immediately after the election indicating their willingness to implement agreements made with China. And, with left alliance sweeping the elections, China is expecting the pace to deepen.

Moreover, Oli and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have had a strained relation since the month-long economic blockade that occurred following the Madhesh Movement in 2015 and India’s diplomatic intervention in Nepal’s constitutional process earlier—of which Oli have remained a strong vocal critic since then. Oli also built a strong image among Nepali people criticizing India’s ‘hegemonic interference’ and invoking anti-Indian rhetoric sentiments against the blockade.

Interestingly enough, this diplomatic engagement is being taken place even though the new prime minister is yet to be sworn in Nepal. Soon after the election results were announced, Modi even reached out to Oli to congratulate him on left success and even showed eagerness to welcome him in India after the formation of new government.

Experts believe that these recent developments in Indo-Nepal ties are the conciliatory advance from New Delhi to mend ties with Kathmandu and gesture against the increasing gap with Beijing, while earning trust from Nepali people.

Swaraj’s visit to Nepal is a clear message that India wants to improve diplomatic relation and put Nepal as a top priority.

And, since Nepal is most probably getting a stable government for a five straight years and with stability and economic prosperity as major agenda, India, especially Modi, has also expressed desire to see stability, development and prosperity in Nepal. Oli also seems to have caught Modi’s gesture, as he, on the occasion of 69^th Republic Day of India, wrote to Modi expressing eagerness to work with his government.

Modi holding telephone conversation with top leaders, inviting Oli to India before he is sworn-in and Swaraj carrying his message to Nepal before the formation the new government are obvious index of India’s growing concern in Nepal and signs that India wants to join hands Nepal and move together toward the path of success, stability, development and prosperity.

If Swaraj’s visit remains successful, the Indo-Nepal bilateral partnership can be expected to gain a new height, which, indeed, can prove helpful in fulfilling ‘Nepalese dreams’ of successful and prosperous Nepal.