| In Short |
| Sitaram Yechury is in critical condition at AIIMS Delhi due to a severe respiratory tract infection. |
| Yechury has been placed on respiratory support, with doctors monitoring him closely. |
| He was a prominent figure in student protests during the Emergency in 1975 and later rose to lead the CPI(M). |
| Yechury played a key role in the formation of the United Front in 1996 and supported the UPA in 2004. |
| He is a vocal critic of the government’s recent amendments to the IT Act, which he views as an attack on free speech. |
| The future of the CPI(M) and Indian leftist politics remains closely tied to his recovery. |
Communist Party of India Marxist leader and general secretary Sitaram Yechury is critical in health condition at AIIMS, Delhi. Yechury has been undergoing intensive treatment since being diagnosed with a severe respiratory tract infection and pneumonia. The condition of his health is frail, and he is under close observation by doctors.
A Health Crisis Amid Ongoing Political Contributions
Admitted to AIIMS on 19 August 2024, Yechury was brought in with symptoms of high fever and breathing difficulties and was diagnosed initially as suffering from pneumonia. He was put on respiratory support in ICU subsequently after his condition had deteriorated. The 72-year-old leader has all along been the leading champion of coalition politics and the politics of social welfare and has hurled loud criticism against what, according to him, is the increasing authoritarianism of the ruling party at the Centre.
The Contribution by Yechury to Indian Politics
Over the decades, Yechury has managed to carve out a space for himself in the country’s polity as a seasoned politician. He came into prominence during the Emergency in 1975, wherein, as a student leader, he was imprisoned. Even as a student at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Yechury had begun to organize protests and work for the rights of students, becoming the president of the students’ union.
His influence was further felt when, in 1996, he played an important role in drafting the common minimum program for the United Front government. This was instrumental in forging coalition governance in India. The CPI(M) leader also played a key role in supporting the formation of the United Progressive Alliance in 2004.
A Champion of Free Speech
Of late, Yechury was in the headlines for his strident criticism of the Indian government’s amendments to the Information Technology Act. The amendments empowered government-appointed bodies to fact-check and delete from social media what they considered ‘fake news’. For Yechury, such changes were no less than an assault on free speech. He had been persistently demanding deletion for such amendments, warning at the same time that it was injurious to democracy because that would introduce uncalled-for censorship.
Navigating the Future of CPI(M)
Despite his health ailments, Yechury has continued to be in the midst of all activities of CPI(M) in regard to the task of consolidation of the Left forces and protection of democratic rights in India. His guidance still influences the policies and views of CPI(M) on various socio-economic and political matters, especially in issues related to neoliberal economic policy and secularism. This is a further testament to the importance of his work in coalition building and diplomatic functions-both national and international-and makes him a figure of no little significance within Indian politics.
Public Reaction to His Health
The news about Yechury’s health crisis has raised a lot of concern on the entire political spectrum of leaders as well as ordinary citizens. Other politicians across the divide, including his opponents, have expressed their best wishes in view of his getting well. The leftist movement in India, more so the CPI(M) cadres and supporters, are closely observing the developments regarding his health since his recovery is seen by many as crucial to the future direction of the party.
Sitaram Yechury’s state of ill health has come at a time when his political leadership is still as important as ever. From mobilizing workers’ rights to protesting against censorship and formulating policies on inclusive governance, there is little doubt as to the relevance of Yechury in influencing Indian politics. As the entire nation waits for updates on his health condition, there is one hope: that his contributions to the sociopolitical landscape will be felt for many years to come.
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