New Delhi: CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury passed away Thursday at the age of 72 following a prolonged illness.
The veteran politician and former Rajya Sabha MP was admitted to the intensive care unit of AIIMS, and was under treatment for acute respiratory tract infection. He had been on respiratory support over the past few days.
A member of the CPI(M) Politburo since 1992, Yechury succeeded Prakash Karat as the general secretary of the party in 2015. He had joined the CPI(M)’s youth wing Students Federation of India in 1974, graduating to the parent party the next year.
Yechury, who grew up in Hyderabad, moved to Delhi in 1969. He completed his undergraduate studies from Delhi University’s St. Stephen’s College and got a Masters in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, scoring a first class in both.
The leader’s doctoral studies were aborted after his arrest in 1975 during the Emergency.
Yechury was born on 12 August 1952 to Sarveswara Somayajula and Kalpakkam Yechury, who were originally from Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. He went to school in Hyderabad. His body has been donated to AIIMS, New Delhi, for teaching and research purposes.
CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, aged 72, passed away at 3:05 pm today. The family has donated his body to AIIMS, New Delhi for teaching and research purposes: AIIMS pic.twitter.com/dSl7v3QZrv
— ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2024
In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Yechury a “leading light of the Left”, and a man who was known for his ability to connect across the political spectrum. “He also made a mark as an effective Parliamentarian. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this sad hour,” he wrote.
BJP leader and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recalled that Yechury was her senior in JNU. “The first time I entered Rajya Sabha in 2014, he was still a member. It is a big loss for the Communist Party,” the minister said.
The Marxist leader was a member of the Upper House from West Bengal between 2005 and 2017.
‘A very fine human being’
Condolences poured in from colleagues who lauded Yechury’s legacy and mused about what a thorough gentleman the Marxist was.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called him “a very fine human being, a multilingual bibliophile, an unrepentant Marxist with a pragmatic streak, a pillar of the CPI(M), and a superb Parliamentarian with a wonderful wit and sense of humour”.
In a long post on X, Ramesh reflected on their association of over three decades, and their frequent collaborations. “He had friends across the political spectrum and was admired for the strength of his convictions and for his most engaging personality. Salaam Tovarish. You have left us much too early but you enriched public life immeasurably and will not be forgotten,” Ramesh said.
Congress leader Pawan Khera said the leader was a “thorough gentleman” and a man of unwavering conviction. “Travel well #SitaramYechury. Indian politics shall miss you and the values you lived for,” he posted.
Our beloved comrade #SitaramYechury, General Secretary of CPI(M), passed away at AIIMS today.
Red Salute to Comrade Sitaram Yechury! pic.twitter.com/COrcQSuj3A
— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) September 12, 2024
CPI(M) leader Hannan Mollah said Yechury, who was battling pneumonia and a severe chest infection, fought heroically before succumbing to the disease. “His death is a great loss for the Communist movement, for the Left movement and for the democratic movement of this country,” he said, adding that the departed leader had the “strongest voice in favour of democracy, secularism, unity and the united progress of this country”.
Condolences also poured in from leaders of the INDIA bloc, the Opposition front where Yechury played a crucial role. He was also considered the political mentor of Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav wished his bereaved family members strength to “bear this immense sorrow”, and CPI(M) MP V. Sivadasan called Yechury “one of the lights of the working class movement”. “His demise is a big loss for the working movement in India,” he said.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said Yechury’s death was a “profound loss” for all. “His years of service and devotion to our country are worthy of the greatest respect. Most of all, he was an inherently decent human being who brought a sense of balance and gentleness to the harsh world of politics. May his soul rest in peace and may his loved ones find the strength and courage to face this tragedy,” she posted.
This is an updated version of the report
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What a wonderful human being. Rest in power, Comrade.