Earlier this year on 30 May, outpourings of gratitude filled Twitter after Sushma Swaraj, who served as the External Affairs Minister during the first term of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government, was excluded from the Cabinet as the government returned for a second term.
Swaraj tweeted that she prayed that the Modi government in its second term functions with glory.
Three months later, on the night of Tuesday, 6 August, the 67-year-old minister passed away in AIIMS after a cardiac arrest. She was reportedly not keeping well.
When Twitter Thanked Sushma Swaraj for Her Service as EAM
As Swaraj left a legacy of an easily accessible External Affairs Minister, who helped Indian diaspora in distress with her quick responses on Twitter to requests for help, it was a given that Twitter would have a meltdown when she was left out from the Cabinet.
People on Twitter thanked her for her services and for always being a helping hand for Indians in distress abroad. From Indian citizens to NRIs to even her counterparts from other countries expressed their dejection.
In 2018, Swaraj had opted out of fighting the Lok Sabha elections due to health reasons. Her interaction with the diaspora on social media established her as someone who can be reached in distress with just the click of a mouse.
(This story has been updated to reflect Sushma Swaraj’s demise on 6 August.)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)