Would have suspended wife, says Sushma Swaraj to man requesting spouse’s transfer

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is known for her resourcefulness when it comes to helping people in need. If you look at her history, Swaraj has always managed to be a her of sorts because of her quick action to help Indians stuck abroad.

Recently, however, the external affairs minister showed a side that one usually does not associate with her. A Pune-based techie had tweeted to her requesting a transfer for his wife, who works for the Railway ministry, and posted in Jhansi.

Smit Raj tweeted,

@SushmaSwaraj Can u plz help us in ending our banwas in India? My wife is in Jhansi Rly employee and I work in Pune in IT. Been a year+.

— Smit Raj. (@smitraj07) January 8, 2017

Usually the first one to help, Swaraj replied in a way that Raj would not have expected. 

If you or your wife were from my Ministry and such a request for transfer was made on twitter, I would have sent a suspension order by now. https://t.co/LImngQwFh6

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) January 8, 2017

Swaraj then tagged Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, who is equally prompt with his responses on social media. Prabhu also replied, but said that he had nothing to do with transfers and would ask a top railway officer to look into the case.

@sureshpprabhu I have received this tweet.pic.twitter.com/gXhQAhQNA8

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) January 8, 2017

1/Thanks @SushmaSwaraj ji for bringing it to my notice.As per policy laid by me,I don't look into transfers.Railway Board empowered for same https://t.co/WSqxinGx1u

— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) January 8, 2017

2/Asked Chairman,Railway Board to take suitable action as per rules https://t.co/WSqxinGx1u

— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) January 8, 2017

Earlier, Swaraj had aided a US-based man who had asked for the minister’s help to help his wife get a passport, claiming he had to live without her because of the delay. She had even asked Indians, both travelling and working, to tweet their grievances at the Indian Embassy in that country and tag her in the tweet.