CPI(M) general secretary and former Rajya Sabha MP, Sitaram Yechury, passed away on Thursday at the age of 72 following a prolonged illness. He had been receiving treatment for an acute respiratory tract infection in the intensive care unit of AIIMS, Delhi, and had been on respiratory support for several days under the care of a multidisciplinary team of doctors.
Yechury succeeded Prakash Karat as CPI(M) general secretary in 2015. He was mentored by the late party leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet, who played significant roles during the coalition governments of V P Singh’s National Front and the 1996-97 United Front, both of which had external support from the CPI(M).
Yechury began his political journey by joining the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) in 1974 and became a party member in 1975. He was arrested during the Emergency, just months after joining the CPI(M).
Yechury further gained political clout during the Left’s backing of the first UPA government, often exerting influence on the Congress-led administration’s policy decisions. He was also instrumental in the discussions with the government over the Indo-US nuclear deal, which ultimately led to the Left withdrawing support from UPA-I due to Karat’s strong opposition.
He and his party are well known for towing the Chinese Communist Party line. He himself is an open admirer of China and its dictatorship goverment. He had defended the persecution of Uyghur Muslims in China and
Sitaram Yechury in his political career did the usual secular politics that involved anti-Hindu and anti-India politics.
Earlier this year, Sitaram Yechury declined an invitation to attend the consecration ceremony at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, dismissing the event as being state-sponsored.
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?”
Yechury had also defended Xi Jinping’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying, “China’s exemplary response in controlling the pandemic, reopening society and its economy, and resuming growth highlights the superiority of socialism over capitalism.”
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.
The CPI-M under his leadership praised China’s vaccination efforts while overlooking India’s stupendous achievement of administering over 1 crore doses.
(With inputs from OpIndia)
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