Bharat Jodo Yatra: Jalandhar Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary died on Saturday after he suffered a heart attack during Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra in Punjab's Phillaur town. He was 76.
The Congress MP was rushed to the hospital but couldn't survive, informed Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra has been suspended till the last rites of the Congress MP who passed away are not conducted, the Punjab Congress chief said.
In 2019, Singh became the second-time MP from Jalandhar with a margin of 19,491 votes.
Singh fell during the rush of the yatra in Phillaur town and was taken to a hospital in Phagwara in an ambulance where he died. The exact moment when the leader collapsed was captured on camera.
Sharing his condolences, Rahul Gandhi, said, "Stunned with the sudden demise of Santokh Singh Chaudhary."
Rahul Gandhi has also cancelled today's scheduled presser and is likely to visit the house of the late party MP.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences over the demise of Santokh Singh Chaudhary, saying he will be remembered for his efforts to serve the people of Punjab.
"Pained by the passing away of MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary Ji. He will be remembered for his efforts to serve the people of Punjab," Modi said in a tweet.
"Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti," he said.
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, tweeted Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra resumed from Ladhowal on Saturday morning as part of its Punjab leg.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed grief over the death of the Congress MP.
"I am deeply saddened at the untimely death of Congress Member of Parliament from Jalandhar, Santokh Singh Chaudhary," he said in a tweet in Punjabi.
Former Congress leader Capt. Amarinder Singh also condoled Chaudhary's death.
"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,” Singh wrote on Twitter.
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