New Delhi: Members in the Lok Sabha, cutting across party lines, today extended a warm welcome to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj when she came to the House after a long absence due to health reasons.
As soon as she was spotted stepping into her front row seat after the Question Hour, members began thumping their desks and it continued for some time as she took her seat.
Greeting 65-year-old Swaraj, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan wished her a long and healthy life.
A smiling Swaraj, appearing a little wan, accepted wishes from her and other members.
Union ministers Uma Bharti and Sadananda Gowda as also Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia then went to her to wish her.
Leader of Congress in the House Mallikarjun Kharge welcomed her from his seat and wished her a long and healthy life in serving the nation.
Swaraj, in turn, expressed her happiness upon returning to the House and thanked members for their wishes.
She later made a statement on the cases of attacks, including hate crimes, on Indians in the US.
After that, members came to her in large numbers to greet her.
Swaraj underwent a kidney transplant on December 10 at the AIIMS and has since been away from the public g
—PTI