New Delhi, Sep 12 ( UNI): CPI(M) general secretary and former Rajya Sabha MP Sitaram Yechury passed away here on Thursday after a prolonged illness. He was 72 and is survived by his wife Seema Chisti Yechury and two children.
The former MP was admitted to the intensive care unit of AIIMS, Delhi and was being treated for an acute respiratory tract infection. Over the past few days, he had been on respiratory support, and treated by a multi-disciplinary team of doctors.
Born on August 12, 1952, in Chennai, Yechury studied at Delhi University during graduation and completed post-graduation from Jawaharlal Nehru University. He has been serving as the CPI(M) General Secretary since 2015.
He was pursuing his doctorate in Economics from JNU when the Indira Gandhi government imposed the Emergency in 1975. Yechury was arrested along with many other leaders who later played a key role in National Politics. His PhD remained incomplete.
The CPI(M) leader was elected as president of the JNU Student’s Union thrice a year after being out of jail.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed deep sorrow over the demise of CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Thursday. “Com. Sitaram Yechury’s demise is a big blow to Indian democracy and secular polity in general and the revolutionary movement of the working class in particular,” the Chief Minister said.
