Sitaram Yechury, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), is in critical condition and receiving respiratory support at AIIMS Delhi, according to a CPI(M) statement. Yechury, 72, was admitted to the hospital on August 19 for a severe lung infection resembling pneumonia. The exact nature of his ailment has not been disclosed by the hospital.
A multi-disciplinary team of doctors is closely monitoring Yechury’s condition, which is described as critical. He had recently undergone cataract surgery, adding to concerns about his health.
Background on Sitaram Yechury
Yechury, a prominent figure in Indian politics, joined the CPI(M) in 1975, after being an active member of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI). He was arrested during the Emergency while studying at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where he also served as president of the JNU Students’ Union multiple times between 1977 and 1988.
Yechury, along with Prakash Karat, played a key role in strengthening the leftist influence at JNU and is known for continuing the coalition-building efforts of former general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet. He was instrumental in drafting the common minimum program for the United Front government in 1996 and contributed significantly to the formation of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2004.
Recently, Yechury has been critical of the Union government, particularly targeting the Modi-led NDA government’s decision to induct lateral entry officers, which he claims is an attempt to infiltrate RSS personnel and undermine the constitutional framework.
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