Condolences pour in from PM Modi, leaders after Sitaram Yechury’s demise

New Delhi: After Sitaram Yechury, the general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and a former member of the Rajya Sabha, passed away on Thursday at the age of 72, heartfelt condolences poured in.

Yechury was receiving treatment for an acute respiratory tract infection at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi. On August 19, he was admitted to the Emergency Ward and then moved to the intensive care unit. Tributes from across the political spectrum have poured in since his passing, Indian Express reported.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences while noting that Yechury was a “leading light of the Left” and “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,” the PM said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences while noting that Yechury was a “leading light of the Left” and “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,” the PM said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Leader of Opposition (LoP) and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote in a post in X, “Sitaram Yechury ji was a friend and a protector of the Idea of India, possessing 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.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, extending his condolences, said, “His demise is a loss to the political sphere. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family members and friends. May God give them the strength to endure this difficult time.”

While paying tribute to the leftist leader, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, said, “If I can recall, he’s my senior from JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi). The first time when I entered Rajya Sabha in 2014, he was still a member of the Rajya Sabha. It is a big loss for the Communist Party…”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in his condolence message wrote: “In his long years in public life, he distinguished himself as a seasoned parliamentarian known for his knowledge and articulation. He was also my friend with whom I had several interactions. I will always recall my interactions with him.”

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari took to X to express his condolences, and wrote, “His contributions to public life will always be remembered.”

Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister of Kerala and a member of the CPI(M) Politburo, expressed his condolences, describing Yechury's passing as an irreversible loss during a period of serious crisis for the nation and its citizens. “A leader who rose to the CPI(M) leadership from its student movement, Yechury had led the party through nine years of troubled political times. While serving as the general secretary of CPI(M), he acted as a guide for the party and the Left movement in the country, being instrumental in forming the correct political stance while leading the party,” he said in a statement.

One of the first people to pay respect to the CPI(M) leader was senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who called Yechury an "unrepentant Marxist with a pragmatic streak, a pillar of the CPI(M), and a superb Parliamentarian.”

“Our association stretched over three decades, and we collaborated closely on different occasions. He had friends across the political spectrum and was admired for the strength of his convictions and his engaging personality,” he wrote on X, adding, “Salaam Tovarish. You have left us much too early, but you enriched public life immeasurably and will not be forgotten.”

In expressing his condolences at Yechury's demise, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong described the late leader as "a staunch Marxist and an old friend of the Chinese." Yechury's "contribution to China-India relations and friendship will be remembered forever," he continued.

The Communist Party of India's (Marxist) Polit Bureau likewise offered a heartfelt tribute to their "Comrade." According to the Bureau, Yechury was the most senior member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), a remarkable leader of the Left, and a well-known Marxist ideologue.

“He was a brilliant student who secured a first class in both his undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in economics. He joined the student movement at Jawaharlal Nehru University in 1974 and became a leader of the Students Federation of India. He was thrice elected as President of the JNU Students Union within a span of two years. He was the All India President of the Students Federation of India from 1984 to 1986 and played an important role in developing the student organisation as an all-India force,” they said in a statement.

Reflecting back on the leader’s journey, the Bureau said, “Yechury joined the CPI(M) in 1975. He was arrested during the emergency for his political activities. He was elected to the Central Committee of the Party in 1985 at the 12th Congress and he remained in the Central Committee till his death. He was elected to the Central Secretariat in 1989 and to the Polit Bureau in 1992 at the 14th Congress of the Party. He was elected as the General Secretary of the CPI(M) at the 21st Congress in 2015, a position he continued till his death.”

Yechury's death signals the end of an era for the CPI(M) since he was renowned for his ability to have meaningful conversations with political opponents and his steadfast adherence to Marxist principles.