PUNJAB: Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary died of a heart attack during Bharat Jodo Yatra in Punjab this morning.
As per reports, Santokh Singh Chaudhary collapsed during the foot march in Phillaur and was rushed to a hospital in Phagwara and was declared dead shortly.
Rahul had resumed the Yatra from Ladhowal in the morning and had walked through Phillaur, the constituency represented by Chaudhary’s son Vikramjit Singh in Punjab assembly. A little later, when Yatra was on way to Goraya, Chaudhary collapsed. He was rushed to Virk Hospital Phagwara. “Most likely he suffered heart attack,” said Dr Jasjit Singh Virk who attended the Congress MP.
“Santokh Singh Chaudhury, aged 76, Congress MP from Jalandhar, passed away from a sudden cardiac arrest during the Bharat Jodo Yatra this morning. We extend our deepest condolences to his family,” Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications said in a tweet. “There will be some changes in schedule of the yatra which will be shared shortly.”
Mallikarjun Kharge also took to Twitter to express grief.
Gandhi has left the Yatra midway and is likely to reach Chaudhary’s residence in Jalandhar.
Yatra entered Dobaa region of Punjab on Saturday morning where Congress could perform better during assembly elections.