Leaders pay tribute to Yechury amid chants of 'Lal Salaam'

A sea of mourners cutting across political spectrum and age groups paid tributes to CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury at the CPI(M) party office on Saturday.

Party workers, admirers, and students surrounded the coffin amid chants of ‘Laal Salaam’ — a humble tribute to the leader.

Wrapped in the red flag of the CPI, Yechury's mortal remains were kept at the party office, where prominent political figures, including Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress leaders P Chidambaram and Jairam Ramesh, and NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar paid homage to Yechury, who passed away on September 12 at AIIMS.

Politburo members Prakash Karat, Brinda Karat, Pinarayi Vijayan and MA Baby also paid tributes.

DMK MP Kanimozhi said, "I am here on behalf of my party and also on a personal level to pay my respects to a very important and great leader of this country. He was a thinker, a writer and a philosopher.”

“Only when I saw him in a box could I believe that someone so full of life, wit, and love could just go, leaving us in shock and disbelief. Highness, I wish it was not you in that box. I just can’t accept it,” she said.

Recounting his meeting with Yechury, RJD MP Manoj K Jha said, “He was always full of ideas on what to do next. It is difficult to fill the void left by him. Without the mention of his name, no discussion in Indian politics will be completed. I was constantly in touch with him and always found him to be full of energy.”

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said, “Many politicians live for themselves and power, but people like Yechury dedicated their lives to others. He was a dear friend.”

On Friday, Yechury's body was taken to Jawaharlal Nehru University from AIIMS, where students and faculty members paid their last respects.

A bus draped in flowers, with a portrait of Yechury, has been prepared to carry his mortal remains back to AIIMS, where his body will be donated for research.