Jalandhar: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met the family members of party MP from Jalandhar Santokh Singh Chaudhary who passed away on Saturday morning during Bharat Jodo Yatra. He was 77.
Chaudhary died after collapsing in Ludhiana while walking alongside Congress MP Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra's Punjab leg. Chaudhary collapsed after suffering a heart attack. Chaudhary was rushed to a hospital in Phagwara, where he was declared brought dead.
After the sudden demise of party MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary, Congress suspended the ongoing padayatra and cancelled Rahul Gandhi's press conference in Jalandhar scheduled for Sunday.
Rahul later met the family members of Santokh Singh in Jalandhar and paid his respect to the late MP.
"Shocked by the sudden demise of Santokh Singh Chaudhary. He was a down-to-earth hardworking 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. I express my condolences to the bereaved family," tweeted Rahul Gandhi in Hindi.
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said the last rites of the MP will be performed on Sunday and the yatra will remain suspended till then.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge condoled the demise of Santokh Singh. "Deeply shocked and saddened to learn about the untimely passing away of our MP, 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 Kharge. (with Agency inputs)
