STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury died at AIIMS here on Thursday following a prolonged illness. He was 72.
Yechury had been in a critical condition for the last few days and was on respiratory support.
The CPI(M) had said earlier that the 72-year-old leader was being treated for an acute respiratory tract infection at the ICU in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Yechury’s family has donated his body to AIIMS for teaching and research purposes, the hospital said in a statement.
“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,” CPI(M) said in a post on X.
“We thank the doctors, nursing staff and the Director of the Institute for the excellent treatment and care extended to Comrade Yechury. Details of public viewing and homage will be informed,” the CPI(M) said.
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.
Yechury was admitted to AIIMS on August 19 for treatment of a pneumonia-like chest infection.
He was critical and on oxygen support. Sources said he had a fungal infection in his lungs.
Yechury is survived by his wife Seema Chishti, an editor with news portal The Wire. He has three children — two sons and a daughter. One of his sons Ashish Yechury passed away due to Covid-19 in 2021.
His daughter Akhila Yechury teaches at the University of Edinburgh and University of St Andrews.
Yechury was earlier married to Indrani Mazumdar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the passing of CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury 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.
Meanwhile, former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Ghulam Nabi Azad 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.
