Chaudhary Santokh Singh, a congressman from Jalandhar, passed away during the Bharat Jodo Yatra on Saturday morning in Phillaur, Punjab. As he walked behind Rahul Gandhi on the yatra, he suddenly became ill as his heartbeat accelerated.
#WATCH | Punjab: Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary was taken to a hospital in an ambulance in Ludhiana, during Bharat Jodo Yatra. Details awaited.
(Earlier visuals) pic.twitter.com/upjFhgGxQk
— ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2023
The Congress politician was transported to the Virk hospital in Phagwara, where he was pronounced dead. After getting the news, Rahul Gandhi abandoned the Bharat Jodo Yatra and travelled to the hospital. The journey has been halted for the day.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra began on September 7 of last year in Kanyakumari and will conclude on January 30 in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir.
On Twitter, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed his sympathies for the passing of the Congress MP in Punjabi.
He stated, “I am very pained by the untimely passing of Santokh Singh Chowdhury, Congress member from Jalandhar.” May God grant him eternal rest.”
ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਦੇ ਜਲੰਧਰ ਤੋਂ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਪਾਰਲੀਮੈਂਟ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਸਿੰਘ ਚੌਧਰੀ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਬੇਵਕਤੀ ਮੌਤ ਦਾ ਬੇਹੱਦ ਦੁੱਖ ਹੋਇਆ..ਪ੍ਵਮਾਤਮਾ ਵਿੱਛੜੀ ਰੂਹ ਨੂੰ ਸਕੂਨ ਬਖ਼ਸ਼ੇ ..ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ
— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) January 14, 2023
The former chief minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh, also conveyed his condolences, saying, “Extremely pained to learn about the untimely passing of MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary ji today due to a heart attack. My deepest condolences are extended to his entire family during this difficult time. May Waheguru Ji offer the deceased eternal peace.”
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. pic.twitter.com/LJqQA8avAo
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) January 14, 2023
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla, expressed his condolences on the passing of Congress member Santokh Singh Chaudhary.
Today he died in Ludhiana after fainting while walking on the Bharat Jodo Yatra.
The Punjab Congress chief stated that the Yatra has been cancelled for tomorrow (Sunday) as well, due to the funeral of Congress MP Santokh Singh.
“Today, Yatra is suspended. Tomorrow, final rites will be conducted. I have not yet spoken with Rahul Gandhi, but we all believe that the Yatra will commence following the final rites. It will be suspended until the last rituals,” declared the Punjab Congress chief.
Congressman Pratap Singh Bajwa stated that Santokh Singh was well and had no history of illness.
Bajwa stated, “He had not slept well for the last three nights due to his excitement and possibly the strain of the Bharat Jodo Yatra.”
Pratap Singh Bajwa went on to say that even doctors urge people aged 65 and older not to go for early walks.
जालंधर से लोकसभा सांसद श्री संतोख सिंह जी के निधन पर शोक व्यक्त करता हूं। सुदीर्घ सार्वजनिक जीवन में जनहित के मुद्दों पर वे सदैव मुखर रहे। सदन में अनुशासन से अपनी बात रखना उनके व्यक्तित्व की खासियत थी। ईश्वर दिवंगत आत्मा को शांति प्रदान करें। परिजनों के प्रति मेरी संवेदनाएं।
— Om Birla (मोदी का परिवार) (@ombirlakota) January 14, 2023
“He had no history of illness. Every three months, he would get a physical examination, Bajwa stated.
Yatra suspended for today. Tomorrow, last rites will be held. Haven't spoken to Rahul Gandhi yet but we all feel that after last rites we'll start the Yatra. Till last rites it'll be suspended: Punjab Congress chief on Bharat Jodo Yatra &demise of party MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary pic.twitter.com/QDzZn3gHYl
— ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2023