Tributes paid to CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury
Veteran Left leader and CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury 72, died this afternoon after battling pneumonia. The veteran leader was admitted on Aug 19 to Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
He was later shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). AIIMS said Sitaram Yechury died at 3:05 pm today. The hospital said Mr Yechury’s family has donated his body to AIIMS, New Delhi for teaching and research purposes.
“Saddened to learn about the demise of CPI (M) general secretary Shri Sitaram Yechury. First as a student leader and then in national politics and as a parliamentarian, he had a distinct and influential voice. Though a committed ideologue, he won friends cutting across the party lines. My heartfelt condolences to his family and colleagues,” President Droupadu Murmu said.
Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, mourned the veteran leader’s death and said, “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. He also made a mark as an effective Parliamentarian. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this sad hour. Om Shanti.”
“I express my condolences on the demise of senior politician and former MP Shri Sitaram Yechury. May God grant peace to the departed soul and give courage to the family to bear this loss,” Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said.
Shri Rajnath Singh, Raksha Mantri remembered Sitaram Yechury and said, “In his long years in public life, he distinguished himself as a seasoned parliamentarian who was known for his knowledge and articulation,” adding, “He was also my friend with whom I had several interactions. I will always recall my interactions with him. Condolences to his bereaved family and supporters. Om Shanti!”
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari, said Mr Yechury’s “contributions to public life will always be remembered”.
“Heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time. Om Shanti,” Mr Gadkari added.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic demise of veteran CPM leader, Sitaram Yechury ji. We had many years of working relations in the Parliament. Extending my deepest condolences to his family, colleagues and admirers,” Union Minister Kiren Rijiju mourned the veteran leader’s death.
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi 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 lifelong 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,” Mrs Gandhi said.
“Sad to know that Sri Sitaram Yechury has passed away. I knew the veteran parliamentarian that he was and his demise will be a loss for the national politics,” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said.
“I express my condolences to his family, friends and colleagues,” Ms Banerjee said.
A member of the Politburo, CPM’s top decision-making body, for over three decades, Mr Yechury was a member of the Rajya Sabha from 2005 to 2017.
An alumnus of Delhi’s St Stephen’s College and Jawaharlal Nehru University, Mr Yechury started his political career with the Students’ Federation of India and joined the CPIM in 1975. He was pursuing his doctorate in Economics from JNU when the Indira Gandhi government imposed the Emergency in 1975 and he was arrested along with many other leaders who would later play a key role in national politics. His PhD remained incomplete.
Union Minister and BJP national President JP Nadda paid floral tribute to Shri Sitaram yechury, CPI(M) General Secretary, at his residence. Remembering Yechury, Nadda said that he maintained relationships even with those whose views differed from his own.
Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong paid tribute to CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Saturday. Feihong was seen offering flowers to Yechury who passed away in the national capital recently at the CPI(M) party office in Delhi. He also signed the visitors diary.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Ambassador to India Adnan Abu Al-Haija also paid his tribute Yechury. After paying tributes to Yechury, Palestinian Ambassador to India Adnan Abu Al-Haija told ANI on Saturday, “It is a very sad moment as we have lost a very great supporter of the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people…He struggled for poor people who were always looking for humanity… We participated in a lot of events together supporting the Palestinian cause.”
