- Tuesday, March 04, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
India’s opposition Indian National Congress, which is nearing the end of its months-long ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ (Unite India March) from the southernmost to the northernmost state in a bid to mobilise public support, witnessed a tragedy on Saturday (14) when one of its senior parliamentarians collapsed during the foot march and died.
The incident happened in Phillaur in the Jalandhar district of the northern state of Punjab.
Santok Singh Chaudhary, who was a member of the Lok Sabha or Lower House of the Indian parliament from Jalandhar, suffered a heart attack during the march and was rushed to a hospital in Phagwara in an ambulance where he passed away later.
Chaudhary, who had also served as a cabinet minister in the government of Punjab, was 76. He was a two-time parliamentarian, winning in 2014 and 2019.
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who has been leading the march since it kicked off in Kanyakumari in the southern state of Tamil Nadu in September last year, left it midway to go to the hospital, according to party’s sources.
He was likely to meet Chaudhary’s family at his residence in the city of Jalandhar.
Gandhi later shared a photo collage from Saturday’s march in which Chaudhary was seen walking with him and other party colleagues and supporters. He said he was shocked by the senior leader’s sudden demise.
श्री संतोख सिंह चौधरी जी के अकस्मात निधन से स्तब्ध हूं।
वो ज़मीन से जुड़े परिश्रमी नेता, एक नेक इंसान और कांग्रेस परिवार के मज़बूत स्तम्भ थे, जिन्होंने युवा कांग्रेस से सांसद तक अपना जीवन जनसेवा को समर्पित किया।
शोकसंतप्त परिवार को अपनी संवेदनाएं व्यक्त करता हूं। pic.twitter.com/1osKsVMugp
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 14, 2023
The yatra was suspended for the time being, said Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, the chief of the Congress in the state, saying Chaudhary’s cremation will be done on Sunday (15) morning.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi condoled Chaudhary’s death, saying the late leader will be remembered for his efforts to serve the people of Punjab.
“Pained by the passing away of MP Shri Santokh Singh Chaudhary Ji. He will be remembered for his efforts to serve the people of Punjab. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti,” Modi tweeted.
Pained by the passing away of MP Shri Santokh Singh Chaudhary Ji. He will be remembered for his efforts to serve the people of Punjab. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2023
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said Chaudhary’s death is a “great blow to the party and organisation”.
“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,” he said in a tweet.
Senior Congress parliamentarian Jairam Ramesh tweeted, “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. There will be some changes in schedule of the yatra which will be shared shortly.
Om Birla, the speaker of India’s Lok Sabha, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, and former Punjab chief minister and Congress leader Captain Amarinder Singh also expressed condolences.
