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Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary died of a heart attack during Bharat Jodo Yatra in India’s Punjab on Saturday morning.
Santokh Singh Chaudhary, 76, the party's MP from Jalandhar, collapsed during the foot march in Punjab's Phillaur. He was taken to a hospital in Phagwara in an ambulance, where he died later, reports NDTV.
Rahul Gandhi, who was leading the yatra, left the march midway and rushed to the hospital where the veteran Congress leader had been taken, a party leader said. He is likely to meet Chaudhary's family at his home in Jalandhar.
Rahul later shared a photo collage from today's yatra in which Chaudhary is seen walking with him and other party members.
The yatra has been suspended for now, said Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, adding Chaudhary's cremation will be done tomorrow morning.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled Chaudhary's death, saying he will be remembered for his efforts to serve the people of Punjab.
"Pained by the passing away of MP Shri Santokh Singh Chaudhary Ji. He will be remembered for his efforts to serve the people of Punjab. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti," Modi tweeted.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said Chaudhary's death is a "great blow to the party and organisation".
"Deeply shocked and saddened to learn about the untimely passing away of our MP, Shri 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," he tweeted.
Chaudhary had won the Lok Sabha elections twice - first in 2014 and later in 2019. His son Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary is the Congress MLA from Phillaur assembly constituency in Punjab.
