Congress MP Santokh Chaudhary from Jalandhar died after suffering a cardiac arrest during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, said senior congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa. Chaudhary had fainted in Phillaur where he had joined the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Bajwa, who was also at the yatra, said Chaudhary was rushed in an ambulance to a private hospital in Phagwara where the doctors found him dead. The Bharat Jodo Yatra resumed from Ladhowal here Saturday morning as part of its Punjab leg.
The 76-year-old MP collapsed Saturday morning when the foot yatra was on its way to Goraya as per media reports. Rahul Gandhi also rushed to the hospital where the veteran Congress leader had been taken, a party leader said. The congress' Bharat Jodo yatra has been suspended for now.
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The official Twitter page of the party paid its homage to the late MP and extended condolences to the family members of late MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary. "The news of the sudden passing away of Congress MP Santokh Chaudhary is very painful for the congress family. May his soul rests in peace," the tweet read in Hindi.
The episode has shocked congress leaders who expressed deep shock and sadness over the sudden demise of party MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary. Party leaders also said that there will be some changes in the yatra schedule for the day.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted saying Chaudhary's passing away is a great blow to the organization.
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All India Congress Committee General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said Chaudhary died 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 the schedule of the yatra which will be shared shortly," Ramesh said on Twitter.
(With PTI inputs)
