'Sushma Swaraj was a champion for women in India and across the globe', says Ivanka Trump

Washington: Condoling the demise of Sushma Swaraj, senior advisor to US President Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump said the former external affairs minister was a champion of women in India and across the globe.

Swaraj, 67, passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi on Tuesday night after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Ivanka Trump had met Swaraj on a host of issues, including those related to women. “Saddened to hear of the passing of my friend and former India External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.

“She was a strong partner who shared our view that a more democratic world is a more peaceful one. Our thoughts are with her family and the people of India,” he said in a tweet.

In a statement, the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) conveyed their condolences and said “we have worked with Sushmaji since she was the leader of the BJP in Rajya Sabha. In her passing away, we will miss a statesman as well as a sincere and able political leader,” GOPIO said.