LIVE: CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury dies at 72; condolences pour in
The Marxist veteran was being treated for acute respiratory tract infection at the ICU in AIIMS, Delhi, since August 19
Veteran Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at 3 pm in Delhi on Thursday (September 12). He was 72.
The CPI(M) general secretary’s condition was “critical” for the last 24 hours. His party announced that he was on respiratory support.
Sources close to Yechury’s family said his condition had started to rapidly deteriorate over the past week. One of his lungs had lost all function and he had developed a severe fungal-cum-bacterial infection in the other lung.
Over the past few days, his kidneys too hadn’t been functioning properly and he had been undergoing dialysis. The doctors at AIIMS shifted him to a new line of medication earlier this week in the hope of arresting the respiratory infection. However, this morning the doctors informed the family that he was not responding to treatment, the sources added.
Survived by wife, two children
Yechury is survived by his wife Seema Chishti, daughter Akhila and son Daanish.
His elder son Ashish Yechury had died of COVID in 2021 at the age of 34.
His wife Seema is a well-known journalist and author.
Yechury was previously married to Indrani Mazumdar, daughter of Vina Mazumdar and had a daughter and a son with her.
His daughter, Akhila, is a professor of history and teaches at the University of Edinburgh and University of St. Andrews.
In hospital since August 19
Yechury has been treated for acute respiratory tract infection at the ICU in AIIMS since August 19. A multi-disciplinary team of doctors was closely monitoring his condition.
“Comrade Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist), has been under treatment in the intensive care unit of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. He is being treated for a severe lung infection,” the CPI(M) had said earlier.
Chest infection
Though the hospital did not disclose the exact nature of his ailment, Yechury was admitted to the AIIMS for the treatment of a “pneumonia-like chest infection”.
He had undergone cataract surgery before that.
Hope last week
On Friday (September 6), the party announced that his condition was stable and he was showing a positive response to treatment.
“There is a positive response to the treatment. Comrade Sitaram’s condition is stable,” the party had announced.
However, his condition deteriorated once again this week.
Live Updates
- 12 Sep 2024 1:57 PM GMT
Sonia Gandhi on Yechury: 'He played a pivotal role in UPA-1'
In a statement, Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, Congress Parliamentary Party, said, "I am very saddened by the passing away of Sitaram Yechuryji. We had worked closely together during 2004-08 to begin with and the friendship that had been established then continued till his very end.
"He was uncompromising in his commitment to the values of our country’s Constitution embodied so very forcefully in its Preamble. He was fierce in his determination to protect India’s diversity and was a powerful champion of secularism. He was, of course, a life-long communist but that faith was anchored in democratic values. Indeed, his twelve-year stint in Parliament was memorable and left his indelible mark."He played a pivotal role in UPA-1 and more recently contributed enormously to the emergence of the INDIA group in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections."He will be sorely missed." - 12 Sep 2024 1:33 PM GMT
Mehbooba Mufti, Ghulam Nabi Azad condole Yechury's passing
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday expressed shock over the passing of veteran CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury.
"Deeply saddened and shocked to hear about the passing of my dear friend Sitaram Yechury ji. We've lost a great statesman, a dedicated parliamentarian, and a remarkable human being. His demise is a tremendous loss for national politics. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues," Azad said in a post on X.
"Shocking. Deepest condolences to his family and loved ones," People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba said on X.
Armed with a Supreme Court order, Yechury was the first national leader to visit Kashmir to meet CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami -- who was among the mainstream leaders detained by the authorities in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
Yechury was also part of all-party delegations that visited Kashmir following summer agitations in the Valley in 2010 and 2016.
Congress leader Saifuddin Soz also condoled the veteran leader's death.
"I express my deepest sadness on the demise of senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury. I knew him closely for more than three decades and maintained friendly relations with him, till now," he said in a statement.
He said Yechury had "many qualities of head and heart and was respected all around, cutting across party lines".
- 12 Sep 2024 1:31 PM GMT
Odisha CM Mohan Majhi offers condolences
ବରିଷ୍ଠ କମ୍ୟୁନିଷ୍ଟ ନେତା ତଥା ପୂର୍ବତନ ରାଜ୍ୟସଭା ସାଂସଦ ସୀତାରାମ ୟେଚୁରୀଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗରେ ତାଙ୍କର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ଗଭୀର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି । pic.twitter.com/nh1kOD9hHv
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) September 12, 2024 - 12 Sep 2024 1:29 PM GMT
Void left by Yechury would always remain unfilled: Telangana CM
Deeply saddened by the demise of veteran leader, former Rajyasabha MP shri #SitaramYechury Ji. He relentlessly fought to uphold democratic traditions.
— Revanth Reddy (@revanth_anumula) September 12, 2024
The void left by him would always remain unfilled. pic.twitter.com/IeSyxotIrc - 12 Sep 2024 1:28 PM GMT
Strong voice against fundamental forces: Omar Abdullah
Very sorry to hear about the tragic demise of Sitaram Yechury sahib earlier today. He was a stalwart of the leftist political movement in India & a strong voice against fundamentalist forces. I join my father & my colleagues in sending our condolences to his family & party…
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) September 12, 2024 - 12 Sep 2024 1:25 PM GMT
Eloquent, erudite, affable leader will be sorely missed: BJD chief Naveen Patnaik
Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of veteran CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury after prolonged illness. The eloquent, erudite and affable leader will be sorely missed during debates on issues of national importance. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family,… pic.twitter.com/bMzheJqJAj
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) September 12, 2024
