Senior BJP leader and former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who died Tuesday night, was often described as 'Chinnamma' in Telangana because of her passionate support to the separate statehood cause.
Swaraj, as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, articulated the Telangana cause in Parliament, mentioning the alleged suicides by youths in support of the statehood demand.
Swaraj, who also addressed public meetings and held interactions with various sections of society in Telangana, had made an impassioned plea to the youth not to commit suicides but fight democratically to realise their goal of separate state.
At a time when former Congress president Sonia Gandhi was often hailed as 'Amma' in Telangana, Swaraj used to be described as 'Chinnamma' in view of the key role played by her in formation of the separate state in 2014.
BJP workers often hailed her as 'Chinnamma' (mother's sister), next only to 'Telangana Thalli' (Telangana mother).
BJP MLC N Ramachander Rao, for whom Swaraj had campaigned in the recent Lok Sabha polls, said Swaraj knew the socio-economic condition of Telangana people.
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Swaraj had addressed a public meeting at Nizam College in Hyderabad in support of separate Telangana and also interacted with various sections of society in Telangana, including weavers and fishermen, Rao said.
While condoling her demise, several senior leaders, including those from non-BJP parties, Wednesday acnowledged her contribution in the formation of Telangana as a separate state, referring to the epithet 'Chinnamma'.
Swaraj's role during separate Telangana agitation is unforgettable as she spoke about the injustice to Telangana both inside parliament (as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha) and outside, former Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said.
Swaraj came to be regarded as 'Telangana Chinnamma' in view of her crucial role in the formation of separate Telangana, he said.
K T Rama Rao, working president of ruling TRS, said people of Telangana would forever remember Swaraj's support to the statehood cause.
"Heartfelt condolences on the demise of former Union Minister Smt #SushmaSwaraj ji. Telangana people will forever remember her support to the statehood cause. RIP Chinnamma," Rama Rao tweeted.
State Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said Swaraj made major efforts, along with Congress, for the formation of Telangana. She came to be recognised as 'Chinnamma' of Telangana, he said.
Swaraj, 67, died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi on Tuesday night following a cardiac arrest.
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