Palaniswami, leaders hail her as people’s minister 

Palaniswami expressed deep anguish and shock over her death and offered his condolences to the bereaved family members. The Chief Minister said the demise of the BJP leader was a great loss to the country and offered hiscondolences.

Palaniswami also hailed Sushma Swaraj as a role model for women as a Supreme Court advocate and a great orator.

As an external affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj was always available for the rescue of state fishermen often caught by the Sri Lankan Navy, recalled former deputy Lok Sabha speaker M Thambidurai, who had led a few delegations seeking the early release of the fishermen.  

PMK founder S Ramadoss, his son and Rajya Sabha member Anbumani Ramadoss, DMK leaders MK Stalin and AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran were among those who condoled the death of Sushma Swaraj and referred to her as the people’s minister.

“Sushma Swaraj promised a separate union fisheries ministry for the Karaikal fishermen, but that promise is now history. During one of my visits with the former minister, she was very warm and heard about the plight of 18 Karaikal fishermen in Lanka and took steps for the release of fishermen,” recalled Ananda Raj, president, Karaikal Medu Fishermen Association.