Derek O'Brien, Kailash Satyarthi pay homage to Sushma Swaraj

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O'Brien and Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi paid their last respects to former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj at latter's residence in the national capital.

Swaraj passed away due to a cardiac arrest on Tuesday night.

"I have come here today to condole with the family. Sushma Swaraj was an outstanding public servant and self-made woman. She was respected across political parties because of her stature. Mamata Banerjee is in Chennai otherwise she would have been here perhaps. We condole with her family and many admirers," Derek told reporters here.

However, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed grief in a tweet on Wednesday.

"Deeply saddened, shocked at the sudden passing away of Sushma Swaraj Ji. I knew her since the 1990s. Even though our ideologies differed, we shared many cordial times in Parliament. An outstanding politician, leader, good human being. Will miss her. Condolences to her family and admirers," Mamata tweeted.

While speaking to the reporters here, Kailash Satyarthi said: "Sushma Swaraj's sensitiveness influenced me a lot and was the reason for our long term relations. She had always advised me like an elder sister. She loved my son very much and always showered him with love. My condolence is with her family."

"I had last met her at the President's house and we discussed the celebration of Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary. She was not well from a very long time and we never thought that she will leave us this early. I will pray to God to give peace to her," he added.

Swaraj was admitted to All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) following a deterioration in her health.

According to sources at AIIMS, the 67-year-old was feeling restless at 9 pm and reached the hospital at around 9:30 pm in an ambulance. A team of doctors tried to revive her for 70 to 80 minutes but failed in their attempt. Swaraj was declared dead at 10:50 pm.

Swaraj was appointed the foreign minister in the first term of Modi government in 2014. She opted out of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections citing health reasons.