Indians offer to donate kidneys to ailing foreign minister

Many Indians have offered to donate their kidneys to ailing External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj after she recently announced on social media that she was undergoing tests for a transplant at a premier state-run hospital in the national capital.

Such is her popularity that even some citizens cutting across party lines have come forward and offered their kidneys to Swaraj, who belongs to the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.

"@SushmaSwaraj mam I am a BSP supporter and a Muslim, bt I want 2 donate my kidney 4 u,4 me u r like my mother figure, May allah bless u," Mujib Ansari, a Muslim man who is a member of the rival Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) based in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, tweeted.

And after another Muslim man, Nyamath Ali Shaik, offered his kidney to Swaraj, the 64-year-old Minister responded: "Thank you very much brothers. I am sure kidney has no religious labels."

Swaraj had Wednesday revealed on social media that she was on dialysis at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). "I am in AIIMS because of kidney failure. Presently, I am on dialysis. I am undergoing tests for a Kidney transplant. Lord Krishna will bless," she tweeted.

This is not the first time in recent years that she has been admitted to the hospital. In April this year, Swaraj was admitted to the same hospital after she complained of chest congestion and she was discharged after being treated for fever and pneumonia symptoms. Endit