Sushma Swaraj passes away: Indians indebted for these contributions as External Affairs Minister, Read here

Sushma Swaraj passed away on Tuesday in New Delhi leaving the country bereft of an exemplary politician. PM Narendra Modi has called her demise a personal loss and called it the end of a glorious chapter of Indian politics. He death has been mourned not only by her party members but also from politicians from across the nations as well Foreign Ambassadors to India with whom she worked along during her recent term as the External Affairs Minister.

Below are some of her memorable achievements as a politician and administrator.

One of the most accessible Union Minister

​Sushma Swaraj will be remembered by all as one of the most accessible Union Ministers who used social media well as the EAM to reach Indians as well as those in the diaspora in distress. She was known to respond quickly and take action over matters concerning those in despair. 

Speech condemning Pakistan at UNGA

Sushma Swaraj had made India proud with her speech at the United Nations General Assembly in 2018. She censured Pakistan over its use of terror as asymmetric warfare against India. “​The most startling evidence of this duplicity was the fact that Osama Bin Laden, the architect and ideologue of 9/11 was given safe haven in Pakistan. The killers of 9/11 met their fate; but the mastermind of 26/11 Hafiz Saeed still roams the streets of Pakistan with impunity.  Pakistan's commitment to terrorism as an instrument of official policy has not abated one bit. Neither has its belief in hypocrisy." 

READ | Sushma Swaraj Passes Away: Anupam Kher Expresses Condolences, Says She Always Met Him Like A Friend

Super-diplomat

It is due to Sushma Swaraj during that during her term as the External Affairs Minister the Doklam crisis was resolved efficiently.  Another feather in her hat would be India's joining of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). 

Woman behind India's ICJ victory

Sushma Swaraj was the facilitator for India and she put up a strong and winning fight at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case. She had led the efforts as the EAM to get consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav. Even after her term she was in touch with Jadhav's family and was one of the first people to rejoice over consular access being given to him.

Created history at the OIC

Earlier in March 2018, Sushma Swaraj had created history by becoming the first female leader to be invited as "guest of honour" at the inaugural session of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Abu Dhabi. Pakistan, a member of OIC, had dropped out of the conference in protest of honour conferred on Sushma Swaraj.

Efforts in labelling Mazood Azhar as global terrorist

Swaraj had created an environment for India in international relations which led to a massive diplomatic win for India in 2019. It is to her credit that United Nations designated Masood Azhar as a "global terrorist" after China lifted its hold on a proposal to blacklist the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief, a decade after New Delhi approached the world body for the first time on the issue. 

READ | Former Union Minister Of India Sushma Swaraj Passes Away After Suffering Cardiac Arrest In New Delhi

Gathered support for India after Uri attack

Swaraj as the EAM had ensured Pakistan left isolated following the URI attacks. India had conveyed that PM Narendra Modi had would not attend SAARC summit in November 2017 after the attack. Several nations also pulled out of the Summit.  Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Bhutan pulled out of the meet, isolating the host Pakistan. Bangladesh communicated its inability to attend to current SAARC chair Nepal, saying, "The growing interference in the internal affairs of Bangladesh by one country has created an environment which is not conducive to the successful hosting of the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November 2016." 

Charmed Western media

Sushma Swaraj has been called India’s ‘best-loved politician’ by the US daily Wall Street Journal and as a 'supermom' by Washington Post.

READ | Sushma Swaraj Passes Away: Anupam Kher Expresses Condolences, Says She Always Met Him Like A Friend