Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) expresses its profound grief at the passing away of Comrade Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on September 12, 2024. He passed away at AIIMS, New Delhi following severe lung infection and respiratory ailment. He was 72.
Comrade Sitaram Yechury, as one of the tallest leaders of the Party of the working class was deeply committed to the cause of the working class and exploited masses. He was one of the most well-known Marxist ideologue of our times.
In his academic life, he was student of outstanding brilliance. He joined the student movement in Jawaharlal Nehru University in a very stormy period and was elected as President of JNU Students Union thrice. He was the President of the Students Federation of India for a long time. He was arrested during the emergency for his frontline political activities.
He was elected to the Central Committee of the CPI(M) in 1985. He became a member of the Polit Bureau in 1992 and elected as the General Secretary of the CPI(M) in 2015.
He was a member of the Rajya Sabha from 2005-2017. He raised the voice of the toiling masses, especially the working class in the Parliament. He opposed the privatisation of PSUs and was instrumental in exposing many of the corruption scandals emanated from the neoliberal policies of the Central Government. He also played a role of crusader against all forms of communalism and obscurantism being promoted by the Politics of Ruling clique now in governance.
As the leader of the CPI(M), he fought the case against electoral bonds. He staunchly opposed the abrogation of Article 370 by BJP government and was the first one to visit Kashmir fighting the Government which tried to make Kashmir a jail.
He stood by the ideals of socialism all through his active political life and led the ideological struggle upholding the scientific socialism nationally and internationally.
He was one of the faces of struggles against neoliberalism and all its perverse reflections in economy, politics and society in India since late-eighties/ early 90s. As the leader of the CPI (M) and as an MP, he was very keen in participating all working class struggles of various sectors. He also raised the issues of various sections of the Working People as well as exposed various perverse anti-people and anti-democratic policies of the Ruling Class through his exquisite oratory in Parliament. He got the best parliamentarian award in 2017.
He was a master in international issues and a champion of anti imperialist causes and assertion in politics.
An excellent orator in various languages, he could communicate to the common workers as well as intellectuals. He was famous for his quick wit.
Sitaram Yechury also contributed immensely as the Editor of the weekly People’s Democracy for long years, and also the Editor of the theoretical quarterly organ-“ The Marxist”.
He made important ideological contributions in the critique of Hindutva communalism.
He played a major role in forging a broad unity of the secular opposition parties in the struggle against communal forces in governance. He was respected by all for his political integrity and commitment.
The untimely demise of Comrade Sitaram Yechury at this crucial juncture in our national politics is a big loss for the working class movement in particular and the progressive values and the society in general.
CITU pays respectful homage to Comrade Sitaram Yechury and conveys heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and friends.
CITU will half-mast its flags for a week in respect to the departed leader.
Red Salute to comrade Sitaram Yechury
Issued by
Tapan Sen
General Secretary
