Sushma Swaraj comes to rescue of couple over honeymoon

In what became a huge draw on social media platform Twitter, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday helped a Mangaluru-based couple, headed for a honeymoon, after the man, Faizan Patel, informed her that his wife’s passport had gone missing just two days before the couple were to travel to Italy on a honeymoon. Faizan Patel decided to go ahead with the trip alone, but posted a picture of his wife, Sana Fatima Khan, on the empty seat next to him. “Ask your wife to contact me. I will ensure that she is with you on the next seat,” Ms Swaraj tweeted, adding later, “My office has reached you already. You will get a duplicate passport tomorrow.” The couple profusely thanked the minister, but the episode triggered a huge storm, with some alleging that Mr Patel had many months ago posted a derogatory tweet on the minister during President Obama’s visit to India last year.

Mr Patel replied saying people were digging out his old tweets, but pointed out that he had recently praised the minister even before the latest episode. Some on Twitter also wondered whether it was really necessary to intervene in such a case when there were more serious matters of Indians in distress abroad.

“This is how I am travelling with my wife as of now. Travelling to Italy for couple of weeks. Travelling to Italy without wifey. #PartyTime #HoneyMoo-nwithoutHoney. Seems like I am travelling alone tonight via @TurkishAirlines. My wife has her passport misplaced. Fingers crossed that we find it soon. Just two days before our trip, my wife’s passport goes missing!!!,” Mr Patel had said in a series of tweets in the past few days. He also posted a picture of himself on the aircraft seat with his wife’s photo held up against the empty seat next to him on which his wife was to travel.

Mr Patel sought the intervention of Ms Swaraj late on Monday night and the response was immediate. On Tuesday, Mr Patel tweeted, “Thanks to @SushmaSwaraj, the passport is almost issued. Now the problem is the next available date at the VFS (visa) is on Thursday.” The couple said, “Minister par excellence @SushmaSwarajBJP I am glad we have you. You’re a beacon of hope.” Mr Patel’s wife Sana said she was speechless at the swift response and added that she couldn’t thank the minister enough for all she had done.