(Image source from: Dallas Morning News)
A day after the sudden demise of Sushma Swaraj, people are recalling her accommodating nature. A Texas-based child abuse activist, Shanna Poteet, recalls the former Minister of External Affairs of India as a lady with an iron mill.
According to American Bazaar, Poteet has been vigorously fighting for justice in the death of 3-year-old girl Sherin Mathews. She credited Swaraj, the then-foreign minister for India, for being very proactive and helpful in the case.
“It was Swaraj who defended Sherin (Mathews) and began an investigation in India into her death. Sushma Swaraj was also the one who was involved in revoking Wesley and Sini Mathews NRI cards as well as of others close to Mathews,” Poteet was quoted as saying by American Bazaar.
The activist who has been involved in the case since day one termed Swaraj’s part in the case as important and inestimable.
Poteet told American Bazaar: “Sherin’s death attracted the attention of the Indian government and then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj took a keen interest in the case and also instructed the Indian mission in Houston to make sure that the Indian toddler received justice.”
She adds, “India revoked the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) immigration status of Wesley and Sini (Sherin’s adoptive parents) after Sherin’s death.
She also said that back in 2017, it was Sushma Swaraj who requested the Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi to investigate the adoption process of 3-year-old Sherin Mathews.
“Baby Saraswati @Sherin Mathews’ who has been killed by her foster father Wesley Mathews in the United States. I have requested @Manekagandhibjp Minister for Women and Child Development for a thorough investigation into the adoption process.” Tweeted Swaraj back in 2017.
Swaraj had also directed that the investigation in the case should be careful and from then on all passports for adopted children from India would be issued only after approval from the ministry of women and child development.
Sherin Mathews from India was found dead in a culvert near her home in Richardson, Texas in 2017. Her father Wesley Mathews was charged in the case and is currently serving a life sentence in the United States.
The former Foreign Minister of India died of a cardiac arrest on Tuesday night.
By Sowmya Sangam
