Congress Member of Parliament Santokh Singh Chaudhary on Saturday died after he suffered a cardiac arrest, following which the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, currently underway in Punjab, was suspended for a day as a mark of respect for Mr. Chaudhary.
“Bharat Jodo Yatra will be suspended for 24 hours as a mark of respect for Santokh Singh Choudhary, Congress MP from Jalandhar who passed away this morning. The Yatra will resume tomorrow afternoon from Khalsa College Ground, Jalandhar,” senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter.
The 76-year-old, two-time Congress MP from Jalandhar was participating in the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which started in the early morning from Phillaur. He suffered a cardiac attack when the march was between Phillaur and Goraya towns. He was rushed to the civil hospital at Phagwara, where he was declared brought dead. Later, his body was shifted to his residence in Jalandhar.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi offers condolences to the family members of party MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary, in Jalandhar, on Jan. 14, 2023. | Photo Credit: PTI
“Santokh Singh Chaudhary, aged 76, Congress MP from Jalandhar, passed away from a sudden cardiac arrest during the Bharat Jodo Yatra this morning. We extend our deepest condolences to his family,” senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said.
Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, said that Mr. Chaudhary was walking along with another Congress MP when he collapsed. Mr. Bajwa said in a tweet: “Extremely saddened on passing away of Jalandhar MP and my dear friend SS Chaudhary ji. We have lost a gem, his void will be difficult to fill. My heartfelt condolences to his son MLA Vikram Chaudhary, friends and family. May the departed soul rest in peace.”
“Deeply shocked and saddened to learn about the untimely passing away of our MP, Shri Santokh Singh Chaudhary. His loss is a great blow to the party and organisation. In this hour of grief, my heart goes out to his family, friends and followers. May his soul rest in peace,” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said.
“I’m deeply saddened by the untimely death of Congress Member of Parliament from Jalandhar, Santokh Singh Chaudhary. May God rest his soul in peace,” Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann tweeted.
Published - January 14, 2023 10:05 am IST
