New Delhi, Sep 12: CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, a pragmatic communist and one of the key architects of coalition politics since the mid-90s, died on Thursday at a hospital here after battling lung infection.
Yechury, 72, was in a critical condition for the last few days and on respiratory support while undergoing treatment for an acute respiratory tract infection at the ICU in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He was admitted to the hospital on August 19.
In a statement, the CPI(M) said Yechury’s body will be kept at the party headquarters here between 11 am and 3 pm on Saturday for public viewing and paying homage. Subsequently, the body will be taken to AIIMS, where it will be donated for medical research, according to his wishes.
“It is with profound grief that we announce the passing away of CPI(M) general secretary, our beloved Comrade Sitaram Yechury, at 3.03 pm today, 12th September, at the AIIMS, New Delhi. He was suffering from a respiratory tract infection which developed complications,” the party said in a post on X.
Yechury is survived by his wife Seema Chishti, an editor with news portal The Wire and three children — two sons and a daughter. One of his sons Ashish Yechury passed away due to Covid in 2021. He was earlier married to Indrani Mazumdar.
Condolences from across the political spectrum poured in, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembering the comrade as a “leading light of the Left” and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi calling him “a protector of the idea of India”.
Called ‘Sita’ by his friends, Yechury, the fifth general secretary of the CPI-M who took over the reins of the party in 2015 from party hardliner Prakash Karat when Left fortunes were on the decline, was also hailed as an effective parliamentarian, a pillar of the party and an “unrepentant Marxist” with a pragmatic streak.
A soft spoken and popular leader who had friends across the political spectrum, Yechury was also a Rajya Sabha MP for 12 years from 2005.
Leaders cutting across the political spectrum condoled CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury’s passing, with many hailing him as an effective parliamentarian, a pillar of the CPI(M) and an “unrepentant Marxist” with a pragmatic streak.
President Droupadi Murmu condoled Yechury’s demise and expressed heartfelt condolences to his family and colleagues.
Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar condoled his passing and said Yechury left behind a rich legacy of unwavering commitment to public service.
Condoling his passing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Yechury was a leading light of the Left and 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 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.
The Congress also condoled Yechury’s death, with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi saying he was a protector of the idea of India with a deep understanding of the country.
Union minister Piyush Goyal said Yechury gave his entire life for the country.
Several chief ministers also condoled Yechury’s death with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee calling it a loss to national politics.
Family donates
body to AIIMS
Yechury’s family has donated his body to AIIMS for teaching and research purposes, the hospital said in a statement. (PTI)
