Indian Communist leader Sitaram Yechury dies, aged 72

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and general secretary Sitaram Yechury passed away at the age of 72 on Thursday, September 12, following prolonged illness.

The CPI(M) had said in a statement on Tuesday (September 10) that the 72-year-old leader was being treated for an acute respiratory tract infection at the ICU in AIIMS, Delhi.

Yechury was admitted to the AIIMS on August 19 for treatment of a pneumonia-like chest infection.

Sitaram Yechury took over as the general secretary of the CPM from Prakash Karat in 2015.

Yechury was active in politics since his student days and was an important face of the Left politics in the country for long.

Congress leader and LoP Rahul Gandhi paid rich tribute to Yechury and called him “a friend” and “a protector of the Idea of India with a deep understanding of our country”.

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. pic.twitter.com/6GUuWdmHFj

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 12, 2024

Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu said, “Deeply saddened by veteran CPI-M leader, Sitaram Yechury Ji’s passing. He was a stalwart who rose from the ranks to become one of the most respected voices in Indian politics. He was known for his intellectual take on issues, and connection with the people at the grassroots level. His insightful debates with leaders across the political spectrum earned him recognition beyond his party. My heartfelt condolences to his family, comrades, and followers. May his soul rest in peace.”

Deeply saddened by veteran CPI-M leader, Sitaram Yechury Ji’s passing. He was a stalwart who rose from the ranks to become one of the most respected voices in Indian politics. He was known for his intellectual take on issues, and connection with the people at the grassroots… pic.twitter.com/0vL9Jq6ao5

— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) September 12, 2024

(The article is published under a mutual content partnership arrangement betweenThe Free Press JournalandConnected to India)