In Vidisha, Sushma Swaraj was a leader for all

Vidisha: Sushma Swaraj was ‘a great leader and a humanitarian with unblemished political career’ for the people of Vidisha, which she represented twice in the Lok Sabha. The news came as a shock for most of the people in Vidisha.

Condolence meetings were held at three places, including the BJP district office and Agarwal Dharmshala where people from all parties participated and fondly remembered the former Union minister.

Markets remained open unlike in Raisen district where some business establishments remained closed as the traders had called a bandh to mourn the death.

“She was a very good leader and never caused harm to anyone. We have been voting BJP irrespective of the candidate. It definitely felt bad when the news of her demise came,” said 68-year-old Khemchand, a grocery shop owner in the town. When asked about the works done by her, Khemchand thought for a while and said, “I have seen some water tankers provided by Sushma Swaraj”.

Similarly ex-wing commander of Indian Air Force Anuma Acharya said, “She was a very bright person. I had a chance of meeting her once, and I am indebted to her for a favour. When we women officers were fighting for our pension rights, she raised our question as an opposition leader in the House and later UPA government granted us our right. I met Sushma Swaraj on October 31, 2017, the day I got VRS. We developed a rapport within two minutes. She always looked impressive and helped people on humanitarian grounds.”

But when asked about her works, she said, “We have got a better railway platform, a medical college, an auditorium, but it is not enough, we expected more as voters”. Asked will you miss her as a voter, she replied, “May be yes, may be no”.

However leaders be it of BJP or Congress, everyone unanimously said that Swaraj worked beyond party lines when helped people on humanitarian issues. “I personally sought her help on two occasions, first when mother of one of my acquaintance had died. He lived in the US and was not getting visa. I sought help of Swaraj and he got all clearances within little time and I was kept updated by her staff of all developments. During Nepal earthquake my relatives were trapped and lost there, I urged Swaraj for help. She not only helped in tracking them, but also helped in their rescue with helicopters. When it came to helping others she went beyond party lines”, Cong MLA Shashank Bhargav told TOI.

BJP leader Babulal Tamrakar who was considered close to Swaraj and she even had dinner with his family during her visit to Vidisha said, “I had been involved in managing elections since 1962 when it was Jan Sangh. The big difference between Sushma and other leaders was she believed too much in organisation than any individual. She taught us how to contest election in such a little budget; our budget during her election was too low. She identified the local groups, organisations and places where we should tap and we did accordingly and she won with a thumping margin”.

Similar sentiments were expressed by another BJP leader Arvind Shrivastav, “For her organisation and party were always top priorities.”