Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary died of a heart attack during Bharat Jodo Yatra in Punjab this morning. He was 76.
Santokh Singh Chaudhary, the party's MP from Jalandhar, collapsed during the foot march in Punjab's Phillaur. He was taken to a hospital in Phagwara in an ambulance, where he died later.
Rahul Gandhi, who was leading the yatra, left the march midway and rushed to the hospital where the veteran Congress leader had been taken, a party leader said. He is likely to meet Mr Chaudhary's family at his home in Jalandhar later today.
Mr Gandhi later shared a photo collage from today's yatra in which Mr Chaudhary is seen walking with him and other party members.
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 has been suspended for now, said Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, adding Mr Chaudhary's cremation will be done tomorrow morning.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled Mr Chaudhary's death, saying he 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," PM 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 Mr 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 tweeted.
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.
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) January 14, 2023
Congress leader 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.
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.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) January 14, 2023
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Congress leader Amarinder Singh and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also expressed condolences.
जालंधर से लोकसभा सांसद श्री संतोख सिंह जी के निधन पर शोक व्यक्त करता हूं। सुदीर्घ सार्वजनिक जीवन में जनहित के मुद्दों पर वे सदैव मुखर रहे। सदन में अनुशासन से अपनी बात रखना उनके व्यक्तित्व की खासियत थी। ईश्वर दिवंगत आत्मा को शांति प्रदान करें। परिजनों के प्रति मेरी संवेदनाएं।
— Om Birla (@ombirlakota) January 14, 2023
Extremely saddened to hear about the sudden demise of MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary ji due to a heart attack today.
My heartfelt condolences are with his entire family in their time of grief. May Waheguru Ji grant eternal peace to the departed soul. pic.twitter.com/LJqQA8avAo
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) January 14, 2023
Mr Chaudhary had won the Lok Sabha elections twice - first in 2014 and later in 2019. His son Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary is the Congress MLA from Phillaur assembly constituency in Punjab.