India’s former foreign minister Sushma Swaraj dies

Sushma Swaraj, a former foreign minister, and a senior leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, has passed away.

Swaraj was brought to the emergency unit of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi on Tuesday evening, according to people familiar with the matter.

Swaraj had tweeted at 7.30 pm congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the move to repeal special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to the tall leader. "A glorious chapter in Indian politics comes to an end. India grieves the demise of a remarkable leader who devoted her life to public service and bettering lives of the poor. Sushma Swaraj Ji was one of her kind, who was a source of inspiration for crores of people," he tweeted on Tuesday night.

"Sushma Ji’s demise is a personal loss. She will be remembered fondly for everything that she’s done for India. My thoughts are with her family, supporters and admirers in this very unfortunate hour. Om Shanti," he added.