Former external affairs minister and BJP leader Sushma Swaraj will be cremated at Lodhi Road crematorium in New Delhi with full state honours today (Wednesday, Aug 7).
Swaraj was feeling fine till afternoon but around 9.30pm, she suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. She was rushed to AIIMS at 9.45pm. However, Swaraj couldn’t be revived.
Swaraj had health complications arising from diabetes, but was not suffering from any immediate health emergency. She underwent a kidney transplant in 2016 and despite a few spells of hospitalisation, was understood to be getting better.
Sources at AIIMS told ANI that the 67-year-old leader was feeling restless at 9 pm and she was taken to 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. At 10:50 pm, Sushma Swaraj was declared dead.
Just a couple of hours before the fatal heart attack, Swaraj had expressed her happiness at the removal of special status for Jammu and Kashmir thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making it possible “in her lifetime” to see the event.
प्रधान मंत्री जी – आपका हार्दिक अभिनन्दन. मैं अपने जीवन में इस दिन को देखने की प्रतीक्षा कर रही थी. @narendramodi ji – Thank you Prime Minister. Thank you very much. I was waiting to see this day in my lifetime.
Modi paid rich tributes to Swaraj, saying: “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.”
BJP working president JP Nadda termed Swaraj’s demise as a sad incident for the whole country. “Sushma Ji is no more with us, it is a sad incident for not only BJP but the whole country. She inspired us, her last tweet tells us how she was involved in serving the nation in an emotional way,” he said in a statement to ANI.
He added, “Her mortal remains will be kept at her residence for people to pay last respects. Around 12 pm tomorrow, her mortal remains will be brought to BJP headquarters. At 3 pm, she will be taken to Lodhi road crematorium, where her last rites will be performed with full state honours.”
BJP president Amit Shah condoled her death and called it an “irreparable” loss. He recalled her role as leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, saying she was a “forceful voice of BJP” in the House. “A powerful orator, she left an indelible mark as a popular leader,” he added.
Swaraj’s long-term colleague and former finance minister Arun Jaitley said he was “saddened, pained and broken on demise of Sushmaji”. “She was one of the most outstanding politicians in the present era. She distinguished in all positions. She leaves behind a void which is difficult to fill,” he added.
Other BJP leaders and those from the opposition expressed shock and grief. President Ram Nath Kovind also offered his condolences.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that there will be two days of state mourning, in a tweet. There will be no cultural events during this period in the state. All other govt business and programmes, including the Anganwadi programme at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, will continue as scheduled, according to news agency ANI.
Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal condoled her death, saying the country has lost a great leader.
“India has lost a great leader. Sushma ji was a very warm and remarkable person. May her soul rest in peace,” Kejriwal tweeted.
Swaraj who had earned a formidable reputation in helping overseas Indians in distress came across as someone who was the “People’s Foreign Minister”.
Known for her oratorical skills, Swaraj had started her career in politics with Janta Party. Swaraj was elected to the Haryana assembly in 1977 and, at 25 years, became the youngest-ever Cabinet Minister in the Haryana government led by the late Devi Lal.
With a socialist background and initially seen as “a late-comer” to BJP, her rise within the party, considered a party of conservatives, was a testimony to her political acumen, courage and mass appeal.
Swaraj was part of the legal team put together by the Opposition when socialist leader George Fernandes was arrested around the Emergency. Since she and Swaraj Kaushal, who was also involved with the Socialists, were part of the legal team and had to travel to Mumbai together, their law professor and later Chief Justice of India AS Anand suggested that they get married, a story later recounted by her with much relish.
She was seen as a key member of BJP’s Gennext after AB Vajpayee and LK Advani along with leaders like Pramod Mahajan, Arun Jaitley, Ananth Kumar, Venkaiah Naidu and Narendra Modi in the 1990s.
She served in the government variously as minister for Information and Broadcasting, Parliamentary Affairs and Health Minister in the Vajpayee government and also served as Delhi Chief Minister in 1998, a position she lost to Sheila Dikshit who also passed away recently.
In the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, Sushma Swaraj jumped into the electoral fray against Congress president Sonia Gandhi, heading to Bellary in Karnataka. Though she was pitchforked by the BJP at the very last moment to contest against the Congress president, she learnt a smattering of Kannada to connect with the electorate in Bellary, forcing a keen contest.
When the BJP-led NDA lost the 2004 elections — it was the start of the BJP’s decade-long political wilderness — and Congress-led UPA staked claim to form government, Swaraj had raised the political stakes by declaring she would shave her head if “Italy-born” Sonia Gandhi was elected as Prime Minister. It defined her political contest with the Congress leadership.
Swaraj was a very effective orator and she delivered for BJP as leader of opposition in Lok Sabha during UPA-2. She raised the scams that hit the Manmohan Singh government — from Commonwealth Games to coal and 2G — with verve and passion, leading protests that led to the government finally conceding a parliamentary committee on the telecom scam.
Sushma Swaraj became the external affairs minister in 2014 when Narendra Modi’s first cabinet was sworn-in on May 26. Swaraj was the second woman to take charge of the foreign ministry after Indira Gandhi. Her stint as foreign minister saw her bring a popular touch to her assignment in the first Modi government, coming to aid of Indian citizens facing problems abroad. She was known for her prompt response on Twitter to address grievances of overseas Indians.
Swaraj did not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls having ruled herself out of electoral politics. Her health and the decision to bid goodbye to the electoral arena were seen to be reasons for her exclusion from the new Modi cabinet that took oath after the BJP repeated its feat of scoring a majority.
Singh called the bill “illegitimate,” alleging it was designed to incite violence ahead of assembly elections in Bihar and West Bengal, purely to create controversy.
After more than 12 hours of debate, the Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, by 288 votes in favour and 232 against.
The bill, introduced earlier in the day by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, aims to enhance the management of Waqf properties, leverage technology for transparency, and resolve administrative complexities, as recommended by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).
Rijiju hailed the JPC’s consultation process as the most extensive in India’s parliamentary history, noting that it received over 97.27 lakh petitions and memorandums through physical and online channels. “Each submission was carefully reviewed before finalizing the report,” he said, underscoring the thoroughness of the exercise.
However, the Bill’s passage was far from smooth. Union Home Minister Amit Shah robustly defended the legislation, accusing the Opposition of spreading “fear-mongering for vote-bank politics” by claiming it interferes with Muslims’ religious affairs and property rights.
“No land can be declared Waqf property by mere declaration. Lands belonging to the Archaeological Survey of India, governments, tribal communities, and private citizens will be safeguarded by this law. All Muslim communities—Shia, Pasmanda, Ahmadiya, Bohras—can register trusts without going through the Waqf route,” Shah clarified during the debate.
He dismissed Opposition allegations that laws like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the abrogation of Article 370, the Triple Talaq ban, and the Ram Mandir construction had stripped Muslims of citizenship, challenging critics to provide evidence. “Look at Jammu and Kashmir—Omar Abdullah is ruling as Chief Minister,” he pointed out, countering the narrative.
Shah also invoked RJD chief Lalu Yadav’s 2013 remarks, where Yadav had called for a strong law to curb thefts in the name of Waqf properties. “You couldn’t fulfill his wish, but Narendra Modi has. This bill will apply retrospectively,” Shah declared, asserting that the Modi government was pursuing a “politics of progress.” He confidently predicted, “Modi has been elected for three terms, and for the next three terms, it will be a BJP government.”
Speaking in the Lower House, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, the Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, accused the government of using the Bill to “weaken the Constitution, defame minorities, divide Indian society, and disenfranchise marginalized groups.”
He challenged Rijiju’s claim that the UPA government had transferred 123 properties to the Delhi Waqf Board before the 2014 elections, labeling it “a complete lie” and demanding proof. “Rijiju misled the House with political accusations,” Gogoi charged, also criticizing Speaker Om Birla for not intervening.
Rijiju retorted by asking Gogoi to specify which part of his statement was inaccurate. “Don’t make blanket accusations; point to the exact issue,” he urged. Gogoi doubled down, reiterating his objection to Rijiju’s 2013 references.
Congress MP KC Venugopal took a broader swipe, accusing the Centre of an “agenda to destroy minorities.” Without naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he warned, “Today you target Muslims, tomorrow Christians, and the day after, Sikhs. You are dividing the country for political gain in the name of religion, even as you project yourself as a world leader abroad. The world is watching.”
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of introducing the Bill to distract from its past failures, questioning their commitment to women’s empowerment by asking how many female candidates they would field in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections. He cautioned that the bill threatened India’s secular fabric.
Speaking to reporters, Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh and MLA Amanatullah Khan also voiced strong objections. Khan questioned Shah’s claims about the prime locations of 130 Waqf properties, hinting at a BJP plot to seize them, citing past encroachments on Muslim graveyards and buildings. Singh called the bill “illegitimate,” alleging it was designed to incite violence ahead of assembly elections in Bihar and West Bengal, purely to create controversy.
The Bharat Shiksha Summit 2025 will be held on Thursday (April 3) in New Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan. The theme of the Summit is Shaping The Future of Education. The event will see prominent leaders, educationists, legal practitioners, EdTech innovators and policymakers brainstorm on the future and evolving landscape of education in the country.
The inaugural session will have a keynote address by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and speeches by Supreme Court judge Justice Rajesh Bindal, Supreme Court Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai, Balaji Foundation Chairperson Rajshri Rai and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) Chairman Prof. TG Sitharam.
The session on The Vision of National Education Policy will see a keynote address by Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and speeches by Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM and Minister for Medical Education Brajesh Pathak, Member of Parliament Naveen Jindal, Association of Indian Universities Secretary General Pankaj Mittal, Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai and Educationist Prof. Bhim Sen Singh.
Keeping in mind the Summit’s aims of exploring reforms, challenges, and future opportunities in the light of global educational advancements, the next session will be on Education, Culture & Contemporary Development. The session will have speeches by Goa Minister for Tourism, IT and Electronics and Communication Rohan Khaunte, historian Dr Vikram Sampath, Kucnow University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Alok Rai, National Law University Delhi Founder Prof. Ranbir Singh, Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW) Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ranjana Jha, GTC Group Chairman RK Mahato, Balaji Foundation Chairperson Rajshri Rai, Educationist Prof. Bhim Sen Singh and Poet-Author Aalok Shrivastav.
The subsequent session will be on Imagining Indian Education. The session will be addressed by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister of State BL Verma, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj Minister of State SP Singh Baghel, Rural Development Minister of State Kamlesh Paswan and Ambedkar University Delhi Vice-Chancellor Prof. Anu Singh Lather.
The following session, Education Without Borders, will be addressed by External Affairs Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh, Members of Parliament Rajiv Rai and Nishikant Dubey, SAARC University President Prof. KK Aggarwal, DY Patil International University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Prabhat Ranjan, Educationist Prof. Bhim Sen Singh, GGSIP University, New Delhi Dean and Professor Prof. Dhananjay Joshi.
The penultimate session will be focused on Legal Education and Training: Bridging Theory and Practice. Supreme Court judge Justice JK Maheshwari Attorney General of India R. Venkatramani, Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai, National Law Institute University, Bhopal Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) S. Surya Prakash and National Law University, Delhi Vice-Chancellor Prof GS Bajpai will speak on the many facets of legal education.
The final session, From Verses to Values: Nurturing National Identity Through Poetry & Culture, will have speeches by Members of Parliament Manoj Tiwari and Sudhanshu Trivedi, Janab Waseem Barelvi, Dr. Hariom Panwar, Gajendra Solanki, Poet-Author Dr. Anamika.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), led by Raj Thackeray, said it will oppose the release of the upcoming film “Abir Gulaal,” which features Pakistani actor Fawad Khan.
Ameya Khopkar, the head of MNS’s cinema wing, expressed the party’s position through a post on the social media platform X, reiterating their stance against the release of films starring Pakistani actors in India. He referred to such films as “rotten mangoes” that continue to appear despite repeated warnings.
Khopkar stated, “Mansainiks have a duty to remove these films from circulation, and we will persist in our efforts. We will not permit ‘Abir Gulaal’ to be shown in Maharashtra. Those who wish to indulge Pakistani actors must be prepared to face us.”
“Abir Gulaal,” which also stars Vaani Kapoor, is scheduled to hit theaters on May 9. The film is directed by Aarti S. Bagdi, known for “Chalti Rahe Zindagi,” and produced by Indian Stories in collaboration with A Richer Lens and Aarjay Pictures. A teaser announcing the release date was launched by the film’s makers on April 1.
Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor are gearing up to mesmerize audiences with their forthcoming romantic comedy, Abir Gulaal. The teaser, recently unveiled, offers a glimpse into the story set against the charming backdrop of London. It narrates the tale of two individuals, each dealing with their own heartbreak, who serendipitously cross paths and embark on a journey of healing, ultimately discovering love in one another.
Khan, who recently returned to the screen with Barzakh, has expressed his sincere appreciation for the support and patience shown by his Indian fans during his time away from the limelight.
Directed by Aarti S. Bagdi, known for her work in Chalti Rahe Zindagi, Abir Gulaal is produced by Indian Stories in collaboration with A Richer Lens and Aarjay Pictures. The film’s production team includes several notable industry figures, such as Vivek B. Agrawal, who has previously worked on acclaimed films like Queen and Udta Punjab, alongside Avantika Hari and Rakesh Sippy.
The journey of Fawad Khan in the Indian film industry has been marked by various challenges. In 2016, he found himself at the center of a controversy when the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association enforced a ban on Pakistani artists following the Uri attacks. Tensions escalated when the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena threatened to obstruct the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, leading to a public ultimatum for Pakistani artists to leave India.
Despite the tumultuous situation, the film ultimately received a clearance for release from the Central Board of Film Certification. In a recent development in October 2023, the Bombay High Court dismissed a petition that sought to prohibit Pakistani performers in India.
Throughout his career, Khan has also starred in projects such as Khoobsurat (2014) and Kapoor & Sons (2016). He has expanded his portfolio with international roles, including appearances in Ms. Marvel (2022) and The Legend of Maula Jatt (2022), which became Pakistan’s highest-grossing film.
Vaani Kapoor, recognized for her role in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui (2021), is also set to feature in Netflix’s upcoming Mandala Murders and the new Bollywood film Badtameez Gill. Abir Gulaal is poised to make its worldwide debut on May 9, and it promises to be an enchanting cinematic experience.
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