Friday, March 29, 2024
ADVT 
India

Aisa Nahi Hota Hai, Bhai: PM Modi Recalls 'First Lesson' From Sushma Swaraj

Darpan News Desk IANS, 13 Aug, 2019 07:39 PM

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that Sushma Swaraj as external affairs minister transformed her ministry from being bound to protocol to one oriented to "people's call" and recalled she had urged him to deliver his first UN speech from a prepared text and not speak impromptu.


    Joined by leaders from all major parties, PM Modi paid tributes to the BJP stalwart, who died last week, at a condolence meeting in New Delhi.


    The prime minister said he learnt a lot from her and then spoke about his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, months after he had assumed the office for the first time.


    After she received him, he suggested that they sit together as he had to deliver his speech the next day, PM Modi said.


    Ms Swaraj enquired where his speech was and he said he never writes his speeches as he finds it difficult.


    "She said, 'aisa nahi hota hai, bhai (It does work like this brother).You have to speak about India to the world. You cannot speak as you wish'. I was prime minister and she was my colleague minister taking care of the external affairs ministry..." PM Modi said.


    The prime minister said he had undertaken a long travel and was also on fast due to 'navratra' but she insisted he share his thoughts.


    The ministry prepared a draft speech for him, he said.


    "It was her request... One may be a fine orator but there are some forums which have their own traditions. This was the first lesson Sushma ji had taught me," he said, adding she had the courage to speak what she believed to be right.


    Referring to Ms Swaraj's prompt response to Indians facing problems abroad or related to the ministry, he said she transformed the ministry.


    "She changed this whole thrust in the ministry about protocol into people's call... India is with all Indians living abroad in their pain irrespective of the colour of their passports," he said.


    The number of "Passport Seva Kendra" rose to 505 under her from around only 77, he said.


    Remembering her, PM Modi said the BJP leader also had a "Haryanvi touch" as she put across her points forcefully if she believed she was right.


    Noting that she died hours after expressing her joy as Parliament passed the government's resolution to abrogate provisions of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, the prime minister said she was very happy and died peacefully.


    BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the party's working president J P Nadda, besides Anand Sharma of the Congress, Dinesh Trivedi of the Trinamool Congress, Pinaki Misra of the BJD, LJP's Ram Vilas Paswan, Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant and opposition leader Sharad Yadav were among others who spoke at the condolence meeting.

     

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Manipur's 9-Year-Old Green Ambassador Wants To Be A Forest Official

    Elangbam Valentina Devi, a Class V student, was appointed as ambassador after a video of her crying inconsolably on seeing the two trees planted by her being cut down went viral on social media.  

    Manipur's 9-Year-Old Green Ambassador Wants To Be A Forest Official

    'You Are A Thief, Don't Deserve To Represent Us’: Pak Envoy Maleeha Lodhi To Un Heckled At Event In US

    In a video, Maleeha Lodhi is seeing evading questions raised by the Pakistani national during a UN event in New York.  

    'You Are A Thief, Don't Deserve To Represent Us’: Pak Envoy Maleeha Lodhi To Un Heckled At Event In US

    Penguin Announces Book On Sridevi On Film Legend's 56th Birthday

    On cinema legend Sridevi’s 56th birth anniversary, Penguin Random House India has announced a book on the life of the actor.    

    Penguin Announces Book On Sridevi On Film Legend's 56th Birthday

    Protests Against Order For Demolition Of Guru Ravidas Temple: SC Warns Of Contempt

    A three-judge Bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra says SC verdicts can’t be politicised  

    Protests Against Order For Demolition Of Guru Ravidas Temple: SC Warns Of Contempt

    Movement Of Troops Along Loc ‘Precautionary’: Indian Army Chief

    Movement Of Troops Along Loc ‘Precautionary’: Indian Army Chief
    He was speaking to the media on the sidelines of function organised by the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) in the national capital.

    Movement Of Troops Along Loc ‘Precautionary’: Indian Army Chief

    Kamal Haasan's 'Indian 2' Rolls As Actor's Career Turns 60

    Monday marked the completion of Kamal Haasan's 60 years in the film industry, and the actor-filmmaker's latest project, "Indian 2", went on the floors on the day.    

    Kamal Haasan's 'Indian 2' Rolls As Actor's Career Turns 60