In yet another proactive response to a person in need, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj personally intervened to help a young man reach India for an emergency, after she was asked for help on Twitter.
A woman in Haryana tweeted that her son, a US citizen, urgently needed to return to the country to conduct his father’s last rites. However, he was being forced to wait as the Indian embassy was shut for Vijaya Dashami and Moharram holidays.
This dreadful wait must end. Please give my son Indian visa in US so his father may be cremated. Please support. Need empathy.
— Sarita Takru (@saritakru) October 11, 2016
Please please do something so our only child can see his father.
— Sarita Takru (@saritakru) October 11, 2016
While the original tweet did not specifically direct the request towards Swaraj, some of the Twitter users who retweeted the message, tagged Swaraj, who promptly responded with the promise of prompt action.
Our Embassy in US is closed for Vijaya Dashmi and Moharram. I have sent a message. We will open the Embassy and give visa to your son. https://t.co/W5may5dy0H
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) October 11, 2016
Our Embassy has contacted your son in US. He should submit application and collect visa from our Consulate in Chicago.@saritakru @KaulAbhai
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) October 11, 2016
This is not the first instance when Indians and persons of Indian origin have turned to Sushma Swaraj for help in resolving immigration and other issues. Since her appointment as the MEA, Swaraj has earned herself the reputation of being very accessible to the public via Twitter and helping to resolve a number of issues promptly.
(This story was first reported by The Better India.)