By YKA Staff:
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s Twitter timeline is always buzzing. The way she makes use of Twitter to help Indians across the world is no secret. In fact, even the Opposition has taken note with AAP’s Bhagwant Maan saying, “I want to thank Sushma Swaraj ji. She is doing an exceptionally good job to save our people abroad.” Maan said this in the Lok Sabha referring to how Swaraj rescued 13 members of his constituency who had been enslaved in Saudi Arabia.
Along with the Railway Ministry which is also doing some noteworthy work over Twitter, Swaraj’s presence online is also a good example of how citizens and the government can directly connect with each other.
From reuniting families to helping citizens recover their passport and travel home safe, every request for help, whether small or big, gets the minister’s attention. And in this spirit of accountability, check out what she has been able to achieve in the last few months.
1. When she rescued 168 Indians trapped in Iraq by acting on a video that was tweeted to her.
I am happy all 168 Indians in https://t.co/3ghWPSMCu2 rescued. 141 came on 19th – remaining coming today pic.twitter.com/KM551QK6lX
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) February 22, 2015
2. When Pranshu Singhal’s plea to rescue his brother from Doha airport didn’t go unheard.
https://twitter.com/TajinderBagga/status/705230255099764736
Thanks to @IndEmbDoha @Gen_VKSingh @MEAIndia @SushmaSwaraj @CPVIndia @PMOIndia My brother Ankit has been released safely. Thank you all
— PS (@PS_Engg) March 6, 2016
Welcome home Ankit. @MEAIndia @IndEmbDoha https://t.co/5wfof8W81y
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 6, 2016
3. When this Indian citizen lost her passport and money in Berlin and received swift help.
https://twitter.com/agratha/status/595231356822618112
https://twitter.com/Agratha/status/595621625179054081
4. When a woman Yemen (married to an Indian), tweeted a photo of her 8-month-old baby and asked to be evacuated safely.
https://twitter.com/SabahShawesh/status/584068001554509824
No need for thanks @SabahShawesh. It is our duty towards our country and countrymen. God bless your child – our young citizen.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 6, 2015
5. When Dev Tamboli’s sister was rescued from the clutches of trafficking from UAE.
@SushmaSwaraj need help for rescuing my sister fm UAE. She went to UAE for job on 14th but now locked in a room pls contact me +97466893988
— Dev Tamboli (@Devtamboli) August 21, 2015
I have asked our Ambassador in UAE to help. He will speak to you and do the needful. @Devtamboli
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 22, 2015
We have rescued your sister with help of local Police. She is being moved to a shelter home run by Indian Embassy in Dubai. @Devtamboli
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 22, 2015
6. When Suzanne Lugano’s sister (of Dutch origin) went missing in Rishikesh.
My officers have located the missing Dutch girl Sabine Harmes. https://t.co/cnh43a26Xg /2
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) February 29, 2016
She is presently in Swatantra Ashram, Rishikesh. Our Regional Passport Dahradun has met her. She appears to be mentally disturbed. /3
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) February 29, 2016
She received treatment at the Nirmal and Jolly Grant hospitals for injuries on her legs. We are informing her family/Embassy about this.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) February 29, 2016
Meanwhile Sabine is being brought to Delhi. @suuskeh
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) February 29, 2016
7. When Gopal Keshri tweeted to Swaraj about an Indian origin woman under house arrest in South Africa who may be physically hurt, the minister tweeted that the Indian High Commission in South Africa would get in touch and brought the woman back home safely.
Rahul – Your sister rescued from Johannesburg is reaching Kochi tomorrow (15th April) by flight EK 532 at 0255 hrs @gopalkeshri
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 14, 2015
8. When Captain Nikhil Mahajan, brother of the late Captain Tushar Mahajan could pay his last respects to his brother and reach India safely from Washington.
@jayabharati Our deepest condolences. Please tell us where he is and what needs to be done for his return @Gen_VKSingh @SushmaSwaraj
— OfficeOfVKS (@OfficeOfVKS) February 23, 2016
I have asked our Embassy in Washington to speak to Capt Tushar Mahajan's brother just now and provide him all help.@jayabharati @sans_kruti
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) February 23, 2016
@jayabharati @SushmaSwaraj Thank you so much for your help. I just received call form DCM Amb. T Sandhu. Hope will travel to home very soon.
— Nikhil (@wanderabyss) February 23, 2016
Thank u @SushmaSwaraj for getting the process done overnight. Capt Tushar's brother hs boarded d flight. https://t.co/HBjGOL4LlC
— Jaya Bharti (@JayaSpeaks_) February 24, 2016
9. When Meera Sharma’s mother met with an accident in Bali and the hospital refused to take insurance guarantee from India.
@SushmaSwaraj I'm in Bali on vacation & my mom met with accident. The hospital refuses to take Insurance guarantee from India
— Meera Sharma (@meera_sh) May 28, 2015
I am in touch with our Ambassador and Consul General in Bali reg your mother's treatment. They will provide you all help. @meera_sh
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 29, 2015
10. And finally, when she pulled off one of the largest rescue operations in a short span of time in Operation Raahat, where 1,947 foreign nationals and 4,741 Indians were rescued by air and sea routes through war-torn Yemen.
The evacuation operation from Yemen is over. General V.K.Singh is returning tonight. We are closing our Embassy there.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 9, 2015