Congress MP from Jalandhar Santokh Singh Chaudhary died on Saturday after suffering a cardiac arrest during Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra in Punjab. He was 76.
Chaudhary was walking along with a fellow MP from Kerala and suddenly collapsed. He was rushed to Phagwara civil hospital in an ambulance after suffering heart attack.
“Santokh Singh Chaudhury, 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,” Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications said in a tweet. “There will be some changes in schedule of the yatra which will be shared shortly.”
Ramesh later said that the yatra has been suspended for 24 hours.
Expressing shock and grief over Chaudhary’s death, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said it was a “great blow to the party and organisation.”
Gandhi expressed shock over the sudden demise of Chaudhary saying “he was a down to earth hardworking leader, a pious person and a strong pillar of the Congress family, who dedicated his life to public service from Youth Congress to Member of Parliament.”
Also Read: Ayushman Scheme: 3 Hosps In Surat Suspended
