Jalandhar Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary died on Saturday after suffering a cardiac arrest during Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Punjab. He was 76. Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa said Chaudhary was walking along with a fellow MP from Kerala when he suddenly collapsed.
Bajwa said “He suffered a massive cardiac arrest”.
Chaudhary was taken to Phagwara Civil Hospital in an ambulance after he suffered a heart attack.
Jairam Ramesh,Congress general secretary in charge of communications, tweeted “Santokh Singh Chaudhury, 76 Congress MP from Jalandhar died of sudden cardiac arrest during the Bharat Jodo Yatra this morning. Our deepest condolences to his family, there will be some changes in the yatra program which will be announced soon.”
Ramesh later said that the yatra has been suspended for 24 hours. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed shock and grief over Chaudhary’s death, saying it was a “big blow to the party and the organisation”.
Deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the untimely death of our MP Shri Santokh Singh Chaudhary. His loss is a big blow to the party and the organization. My heart goes out to his family, friends and followers in this hour of sorrow. May his soul rest in peace. — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) January 14, 2023
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann tweeted, “Deeply saddened by the untimely death of Congress Member of Parliament from Jalandhar, Santokh Singh Chaudhury. May God rest his soul in peace.” Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla condoled the demise of Chaudhary and said the MP was always vocal on issues of public interest.
Om Birla tweeted “Sincere condolences on the resignation of Lok Sabha MP from Jalandhar Shri Santokh Singh ji. In his long public life, he always spoke out on issues of public interest. Discipline in the House was a specialty of his personality. May God rest the departed soul. Heartfelt condolences to the family members”.
Expressing shock at Chaudhary’s sudden demise, Gandhi said, “He was a hard-working 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.”
