Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited the residence of MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary in Jalandhar to meet his grieving family members and to pay him last respects. Chaudhary died of a cardiac arrest on Saturday during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Punjab. Leaders from across the nation including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann expressed their grief on the sudden demise of the Congress leader.
PM Modi tweeted: "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."
The two-time MP was taking part in the Rahul Gandhi-led march in Phillaur in Jalandhar when he fainted. General Secretary of All India Congress Committee, Jairam Ramesh tweeted: "Bharat Jodo Yatra will be suspended for 24 hours as a mark of respect for Santokh Singh Choudhary, Congress MP from Jalandhar who passed away this morning. The Yatra will resume tomorrow afternoon from Khalsa College Ground, Jalandhar."
Gandhi will be attending the cremation of Chaudhary's mortal remains on Sunday, post which, the Yatra will be resumed again.