Veteran CPM leader Sitaram Yechury passes away

NEW DELHI: Veteran CPM leader Sitaram Yechury passed away at the age of 72 after a prolonged illness.
"Our beloved comrade Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary of CPI(M), passed away at AIIMS today. Red Salute to Comrade Sitaram Yechury!" party said in a post on X. The party further said that Yechury's body will be donated to AIIMS for medical research.

The CPM general secretary was in a critical condition and receiving respiratory support at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi.Yechury was being treated in the hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for an acute respiratory tract infection.
Sitaram Yechury, born on August 12, 1952, in Chennai, was a prominent figure in Indian politics. He had been serving as the General Secretary of the CPI(M) since 2015. Yechury spent his formative years in Hyderabad and Delhi, where his political journey commenced during his college days. He actively participated in student movements, particularly during his time at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where he emerged as a key figure in the Students' Federation of India (SFI). His political activism during the Emergency (1975-77) further solidified his reputation as a staunch advocate for civil liberties and left-wing ideologies.

Yechury served as a Rajya Sabha MP for 12 years, from 2005 to 2017. He assumed the role of the fifth general secretary of the CPI(M) at the 21st party congress in Visakhapatnam on April 19, 2015, succeeding Prakash Karat. He also played a significant role in the joint opposition's INDIA bloc and was considered one of the political mentors of Congress leader and Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled his demise and said he was a leading light of the Left known for his ability to connect across the political spectrum.
"Saddened by the passing away of Shri Sitaram Yechury ji. He was a leading light of the Left and was known for his ability to connect across the political spectrum," Modi said in a post on X.
"He also made a mark as an effective parliamentarian. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this sad hour. Om Shanti," the prime minister said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed his grief over the loss of Sitaram Yechury, whom he considered a friend.
"Sitaram Yechury ji was a friend. A protector of the Idea of India with a deep understanding of our country. I will miss the long discussions we used to have. My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and followers in this hour of grief," Rahul said in a post on X.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also mourned the loss, describing Yechury as "a very fine human being, a multilingual bibliophile, an unrepentant Marxist with a pragmatic streak, a pillar of the CPM, and a superb Parliamentarian with a wonderful wit and sense of humour."
"Our association stretched over three decades, and we collaborated closely at different occasions. He had friends across the political spectrum and was admired for the strength of his convictions and for his most engaging personality," Ramesh said.
"Salaam Tovarish. You have left us much too early but you enriched public life immeasurably and will not be forgotten," Ramesh said.
RSS spokesperson Sunil Ambekar also expressed condolences on Yechury's demise.
"Very sad to know the demise of Shri Seetaram Yechury, leader of CPM. We express deep condolences to his party people and family. He was a committed and sensitive political leader. Pray for peace to the departed soul," Ambedkar wrote on X.