External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is known for her prompt responses on Twitter. In the last five years since the NDA government came to power, Swaraj has built a distinctive reputation both for herself and the ministry.
Her interactions with the common citizens of India over matters concerning the Ministry as well as her promptness at addressing the problems of Indians abroad have made Swaraj one of the best performers in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet.
Yet on Sunday, a Twitter user remarked that it is not the minister who posts those tweets.
The user Samit Padhy, whose bio describes him as a software engineer, wrote, “Certainly it’s not Sushma Swaraj who is doing this tweets. Some PR guy is doing his/her duty for what they being paid for.”
Certainly it’s not Sushma Swaraj who is doing this tweets. Some PR guy is doing his / her duty for what they being paid for !!
— Samit (@samitpadhy) March 31, 2019
Quick to respond, Swaraj pointed out that it was her who sends out the tweets and “not her ghost”.
Rest assured – it’s me, not my ghost. https://t.co/qxCeKUJ0uJ
— Chowkidar Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 31, 2019
On 30 March, when a Twitter user asked the Minister why she calls herself a “Chowkidaar”, Sushma Swaraj said in a tweet: “Because I am doing ‘chowkidari’ of Indian interests and Indian nationals abroad.”
Because I am doing Chowkidari of Indian interests and Indian nationals abroad. https://t.co/dCgiBPsagz
— Chowkidar Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 30, 2019
Swaraj’s latest tweet came on the day when she quickly took action on a case of stabbing of an Indian couple, Prashant and Smita Basarur, in Germany’s Munich by an immigrant from North Africa. While Prashant lost his life, Smita is stable.
“Indian couple Prashant and Smita Basarur were stabbed by an immigrant near Munich. Unfortunately, Prashant has expired. Smita is stable. We are facilitating the travel of Prashant’s brother to Germany. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family,” Swaraj tweeted on Saturday.
Indian couple Prashant and Smita Basarur were stabbed by an immigrant near Munich. Unfortunately, Prashant has expired. Smita is stable. We are facilitating the travel of Prashant’s brother to Germany. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. /1
— Chowkidar Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 30, 2019
“I appreciate the good work by @cgmunich. I have asked our mission to take care of their two children,” she added.