THE Uttar Pradesh state committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) organised a state-level condolence meeting for Comrade Sitaram Yechury, general secretary of CPI(M) on October 6, 2024, at the CPI(M) state office in Lucknow. Apart from CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) and the Forward Bloc, prominent leaders of Indian National Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Loktantrik Janata Dal also paid tributes to Comrade Sitaram Yechury. Many intellectuals of the city were also present.

After garlanding the portrait of Comrade Sitaram, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Subhashini Ali Sehgal presented the condolence resolution and two minutes of silence was observed. 

Throwing light on the political life of Comrade Sitaram, Subhashini Ali said that today our country is at a very delicate political stage. Comrade Sitaram's presence was very important for the CPI(M) as well as for the country. His departure has not only caused a huge loss to the Party but also dealt a blow to the secular and democratic movement in the country.

CPI(M)'s Uttar Pradesh state secretary, Hiralal Yadav said that Comrade Sitaram was especially concerned about the political conditions in Uttar Pradesh. While addressing the state level rally, ‘Save Constitution, Save Democracy and Defeat BJP’, organised by Left parties on October 11 last year, he had said that the entire country looks towards Uttar Pradesh. He had called for complete unity of all secular forces to defeat Hindutva forces in Uttar Pradesh. Comrade Sitaram said that it is the responsibility of CPI(M) and Left parties to stand at the forefront in this struggle. It was good that the people of Uttar Pradesh gave a befitting reply to the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

CPI(M) Central Committee member Vikram Singh, while sharing his experience, said that Comrade Sitaram Yechury was a respected leader who always ensured the learning, teaching of, and taking forward, the new cadre.

CPI Uttar Pradesh secretary Arvind Raj Swarup said that Comrade Sitaram was a leader not only of CPI(M) but of the entire Left. The left movement had great expectations from him.

CPI(ML) Liberation state secretary Sudhakar Yadav said that Comrade Sitaram has made major contributions to the united fight against the huge threat of Hindutva and the corporate nexus present in India.

Uttar Pradesh secretary of Forward Bloc, Uday Nath Singh said that Comrade Sitaram was a very cultured man and every communist should be one as well.

Rashtriya Janata Dal Uttar Pradesh state secretary Ashok Singh said that he had the opportunity to meet Comrade Sitaram along with Lalu Prasad Yadav and he was very impressed by him. Comrade Sitaram played a big role in the formation of INDIA Bloc and it was necessary for him to be present in the future as well.

State President of Loktantrik Janata Dal, Zubair Ahmed Qureshi, while remembering Sharad Yadav and the ‘Sajhi Virasat’ movement, said that Comrade Sitaram Yechury was always ready to safeguard the movement.

State vice president of Indian National Congress, Dinesh Singh, while remembering Comrade Sitaram's leadership abilities during student life, spoke of his ability to unite the secular forces in India. 

Professor Ramesh Dixit said that Comrade Sitaram was his classmate and he did not belong to any one party but to all citizens of India.

While delivering the presidential address, CPI(M) Uttar Pradesh state secretariat member D P Singh said that today when Muslims are being surrounded and killed on false charges, when some people are considering it honourable to urinate on dalits and are getting free hand in doing so, Comrade Sitaram's presence was necessary to further strengthen the fight for the country's constitution and democracy.

It was resolved in the condolence meet that the true tribute to Comrade Sitaram would be to complete the task of uniting all secular forces against Hindutva and feudal forces in Uttar Pradesh.

Leaders of various mass organisations including Mukut Singh, state secretary of AIKS, BL Bharti, state secretary of AIAWU, Ravi Kumar Mishra, state president of CITU, Vandana Rai of Janwadi Mahila Samiti, Gulab Chand and Rajkumar, state secretary and president of DYFI, Vivek Vikram Singh, state secretary of SFI also participated in the memorial meeting and paid their tributes.