Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) general secretary and former Rajya Sabha MP, passed away at the age of 72 following a prolonged illness. He had been receiving treatment for an acute respiratory infection at AIIMS, Delhi. A prominent figure in Indian politics, Yechury joined the CPI(M) in 1975 and was arrested during the Emergency. He became CPI(M) general secretary in 2015, succeeding Prakash Karat.
Our beloved comrade #SitaramYechury, General Secretary of CPI(M), passed away at AIIMS today.
Red Salute to Comrade Sitaram Yechury! pic.twitter.com/COrcQSuj3A
— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) September 12, 2024
Known for his admiration of China and secular politics, Yechury played a key role during the UPA government and was vocal on various national and international issues, including his defense of China’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the passing of this “comrade“, let’s take a look at his love for China over the years, a love that will make even Chinese citizens look unpatriotic.
When the world lost loved ones to the COVID-19 virus that originated in China, Yechury penned glowing tributes praising how well Communist China managed the pandemic.
In 2006, when the Chinese Ambassador claimed that Arunachal Pradesh was part of China, all political parties united to condemn the statement—except one. As expected, Yechury chose to stand by his Chinese masters.
When the infamous Tiananmen Square massacre occurred, Sitaram Yechury went to JNU and attempted to justify the brutal crackdown on students. However, the students saw through his defense and humiliated him for it. This issue even led to the CPIM losing the JNU elections at the time.
In 2008, when China brutally cracked down on human rights in Tibet, Yechury astonishingly blamed the protesting Tibetans for the repression. Critics wonder how one could make such a statement while being a citizen of the very country that hosts the Dalai Lama!
Throughout his political career, Yechury maintained a supportive stance towards China, often seen as toeing the CCP line.
He praised China’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that it highlighted the superiority of socialism over capitalism while overlooking India’s achievements in vaccination. The CPI-M under his leadership praised China’s vaccination efforts while overlooking India’s stupendous achievement of administering over 1 crore doses.
He commended China’s economic growth, reduction of inequality, and anti-corruption measures, highlighting these as successes of socialism. He also praised China’s efforts in reducing inequality and corruption, claiming that the country is on track to meet its centennial goal of becoming a “modern socialist nation” by 2049.
In an interview with a YouTuber, he downplayed the issue of the persecution of Uyghur Muslims in China. He said, “Go check it out, once. Come back and let us know. Actually, why don’t you just take a visa and go?” Yechury refused to acknowledge or condemn the persecution of Uyghur Muslims by the Chinese Communist Party in Xinjiang. Instead, he downplayed the issue, stating, “These are problems that need to be properly resolved… Problems are everywhere,” deflecting criticism of China’s actions.”
A Look At His Anti-Hindu Stances
Now let us take a look at the anti-Hindu face of Sitaram Yechury.
In 2015, Yechury controversially remarked that yoga postures resemble a dog’s movements, citing how dogs stretch and breathe. He criticized the BJP-led government’s mass promotion of Yoga Day, calling it a Hindutva agenda and comparing it to tactics used by dictators to divert attention from pressing social issues like hunger. “Such mass mobilisation for yoga sessions is a tactic similar to that adopted by dictators in the past. Through such exercise, attention is diverted from basic issues confronting people,” Yechury said.
In 2017, in the Rajya Sabha, Sitaram Yechury warned against creating a ‘Hindu Pakistan’ in India while discussing the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement. “Now, Sir, what is that objective? In 1947, we became Independent. We are all proud… In those five years, we also saw the partition of India. We saw the communal polarisation that led to this unfortunate partition, aided by the British. So, if you are alluding to those five years, there is an ominous sign. It is a very dark cloud,” Yechury said. He referenced Prime Minister Modi’s call for addressing national problems within five years, cautioning that this could echo the communal polarization and partition of India from 1942-1947.
In 2019, Yechury stirred controversy when he remarked that both the Ramayana and Mahabharata are filled with violent episodes, challenging the notion that Hindus are inherently non-violent. At an event, Yechury said, “The Ramayana and Mahabharata depict numerous acts of violence and war. How can someone who recites these epics as a pracharak still claim that Hindus are incapable of violence? What justifies saying one religion resorts to violence while Hindus do not?”
In 2019, Yechury filed a habeas corpus petition for Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, a fellow comrade who wanted international human rights organizations to establish offices in Kashmir and opposed the abrogation of Article 370.
In 2023, Yechury criticized the ruling BJP’s use of “President of Bharat” on a G20 dinner invite, calling it an “immature reaction” to the opposition alliance named INDIA. “This is the destruction of the Constitution of India…. It is a very immature reaction,” the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader said. He argued that this change undermines the Constitution, which refers to the country as “India, that is Bharat,” and questioned the motives behind the shift. Yechury also highlighted that institutions like ISRO and IITs use “India” in their names, suggesting the change is an unnecessary distraction.
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