Patnaik, Union ministers condole Swaraj's demise

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Pratap Sarangi have condoled the demise of former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, describing her as a "tall leader and an icon for millions of women".

In a statement on Wednesday, Patnaik said Swaraj was a "people's minister" who was respected across the socio-political milieu in the country.

"As a self-made public persona, she (Swaraj) was always eager to help stranded Indians anywhere in the world. She was at the forefront when it came to using social media for providing instant assistance to people in distress," the chief minister said.

"Her multi-linguistic skills and convincing oratory made her a leader of the masses and an icon for millions of women," Patnaik added.

Pradhan, the Union petroleum and steel minister, said the nation had lost a fine human being.

"Still cannot believe the sudden demise of Smt. Sushma Swaraj Ji. An elder sister, a stalwart and a tall stateswoman, her demise is a personal loss for me," he tweeted on Tuesday. "Nation has lost a fine human being and a tall leader. The void left by her demise will never be filled."