Live updates: Sushma Swaraj cremated with state honours

She was hardworking, popular, a fine human being, had unmatched oratory skills and a saviour of last resort for stranded Indians. In my several meetings during her MEA avatar, I found her proactive and caring. The tricolour Indian flag was etched in her heart. RIP Sushma Swaraj," RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka tweeted. Ficci President Sandip Somany said India has lost a great parliamentarian, people's minister, and exemplary leader.

Assocham President B K Goenka described her as a tall leader who combined extreme dignity with a professional competence and compassion as India's external affairs minister. "Sushma Swaraj Ji was an excellent orator, a strong & fearless leader and a tireless politician who always worked for a better India. Having known her for many years, this loss is deeply personal. RIP Sushma Ji, may we continue to be inspired by your elegance," Chairman & MD of JSW Group Sajjan Jindal tweeted.

India Inc on Wednesday mourned the death of Sushma Swaraj, describing her as a fiery orator and a great leader who inspired the nation. "India has lost a great leader. Your contribution to the nation is an inspiration. RIP Sushma Swaraj," Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani tweeted. Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said a glorious chapter in Indian politics has come to an end with the 'sudden and sad' passing away of Sushma Swaraj. "A fiery orator who could spellbound public and equally make a forceful case of India in the UN General Assembly on terrorism, she was a politician of all hues. I had the privilege of knowing her in my formative years in mobile industry when she took charge of the telecom ministry at a very critical time. She grasped the complex issues in a remarkably short period and delivered some key and transformative policies," Mittal said. In an emotional tweet, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra said: "... RIP Mother India...You carry with you the affection of over a billion people".

The Gujarat government and the ruling BJP have cancelled all their programmes scheduled for Wednesdayin view of the death of senior party leader and former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. The state government was supposed to organise a grand event in Gandhinagar on Wednesday to celebrate chief minister Vijay Rupani's three years in office. However, the programme has been cancelled following Swaraj's death, a government release said. The ruling BJP in the state has also cancelled its various engagements, including the ongoing membership drive, scheduled for Wednesday, a party release said.

People in Haryana are in a state of shock at the demise of their illustrious daughter, Sushma Swaraj, with the residents of Ambala Cantonment, where the former external affairs minister spent her childhood days, recalling her affectionate and caring nature.

"A graceful and honest leader, a sensitive and a selfless soul" that is how a string of Bollywood celebrities from Amitabh Bachchan to Lata Mangeshkar, Anil Kapoor and Akshay Kumar remembered former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj at the news of her sudden demise.