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 Sept 2024 6:43 PM IST
CPI(M)'s party flag flies at half-mast following the demise of the party's general secretary Sitaram Yechury, at the party office in New Delhi.
- 12 Sept 2024 6:09 PM IST
Yechury''s dedication to his cause, party will always be remembered: HD Deve Gowda
Former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda on Thursday condoled the passing away of CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and said his dedication to his cause and to his party will always be remembered.
"I am very saddened to learn that Sitaram Yechury, my longtime friend and colleague, has passed away. My deepest condolences. His dedication to his cause and to his party will always be remembered," Deve Gowda said.
- 12 Sept 2024 6:06 PM IST
Hemant Soren condoles Yechury's death
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has expressed grief over the death of Yechury, saying his demise was a great loss for Indian politics.
"His departure is a great loss for Indian politics. He was a skilled politician, thinker and a leader dedicated to the interests of the people," Soren said in a post on X.
Conveying his heartfelt condolences, he said, "I pray to Marang Buru to grant peace to the departed soul and strength to his family to bear this loss."
- 12 Sept 2024 5:58 PM IST
Salute the memory of my friend and comrade: Chidambaram
The passing of Comrade Sitaram Yechury is a cruel blow to the forces that are engaged in a determined battle in the defence of democracy, liberty, equality, workers' rights and human rights. I know that from 1996, Comrade Yechury had stood with the progressive forces of the…
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) September 12, 2024 - 12 Sept 2024 5:53 PM IST
Yechury was a collective conscience keeper of progressives: Kharge
My heartfelt condolences on the passing away of Comrade Sitaram Yechury ji.
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) September 12, 2024
He was a humble leader who chartered the unique territory of balancing personal equations with unflinching political ideologies.
A excellent Parliamentarian and an outstanding intellectual, he served… pic.twitter.com/SwwShXJIPj
