Tragedy struck the Congress’ ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra on its 621nd day on Tuesday, as a 75-year-old Congress Seva Dal worker died of a cardiac arrest, while he was walking along with other party workers in the yatra in Nanded district of Maharashtra.
The Rahul Gandhi-led Yatra -- which had arrived at Degloor in Nanded district from Telangana state on Monday night to a rousing welcome from party workers and people --- was on its way Degloor and Atkali in Nanded district, when Congress Seva Dal general secretary Krishna Kumar Pandey collapsed after he suffered cardiac arrest.
Pandey, a native of Nagpur, was rushed to a local hospital where he was declared dead on admission.
When the Yatra began in the morning from Degloor where it had halted after its arrival from Telangana on Monday night, Pandey was holding the national tri-colour and walking with him and party veteran Digvijaya Singh in the stretch between Degloor and Atkali.
The incident happened shortly after he handed the national tri-colour to another party worker and joined the yatra from behind.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that Pandey was holding the tricolour and walking with him and party veteran Digvijaya Singh.
" On the 62nd morning of Bharat Jodo Yatra, Krishna Kumar Pandey, General Secretary of Seva Dal was holding the national flag and walking with @digvijaya_28,& me. After a few minutes, as is the practice, he handed the flag to a colleague and moved back”
“Thereafter he collapsed and was taken in an ambulance to a hospital where most sadly he was declared dead. He was a staunch Congressman and used to take on the RSS in Nagpur. It is a most humbling moment for all the Yatris,” Ramesh said.
Pandey’s body was later taken from the hospital to Yatra halt site at Atkali village where the yatris including Rahul Gandhi and Maharashtra Congress workers paid their last respects.
Wrapped in the party flag, Pandey’s body was later handed over to his son to his son Sheelaj Pandey who is also taking part in the yatra.
Mourning the death of Pandey, Rahul Gandhi – who is leading the Bharat Jodo Yatra – said;”Krishna Kumar Pandey’s dedication is inspiring. Pandey ji’s demise is very sad for the entire Congress family. I express my deepest condolences to his loved ones. Today, he held the tricolor in his hands at the last moment during the journey. His dedication to the country will always inspire us”.
"Pandey-ji was affectionately known as K K Pandey and he was an ardent Congress supporter. In Nagpur, he worked tirelessly for the party. He breathed his last holding the Tricolour," Ramesh said.
“As a mark of respect for Krishna Kumar Pandey, the second half of the yatra will pass through silently on Tuesday without the usual music system that follows,” Ramesh added.
Maharashtra’s former chief minister Ashok Chavan also condoled Pandey's death, saying the party has lost a "staunch and loyal warrior".
Chavan said that the party intended to hold medical check-ups for all the senior citizens participating in the yatra. “Since many of the Yatris can not match the walking pace ofn Rahul Gandhi, we plan to hold medical check ups for senior citizens and people with people with comorbidities,” the senior state Congress leader said.
Earlier in the day, Rahul visited Gurdwara Yaadgari Baba Zoravar Singh ji Fateh Singh ji on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti n “At the gurdwara, Gandhi prayed for harmony and equality,” the party tweeted.
During the yatra on Tuesday, Rahul was accompanied by senior state Congress leaders including former chief ministers Sushilkumar Shinde and Ashok Chavan, state party chief Nana Patole, and other leaders like Balasaheb Thorat, Manikrao Thakre and Naseem Khan.
Addressing a large crowd that gathered at Degloor to welcome the yatra on its after in Maharashtra from Telanganad, Rahul said that he would not stop 3,570-km Bharat Jodo Yatra – from Kanyakumari to Kashmir – till the national tri-colour is hoisted in Srinagar.
“We started from Kanyakumari with a Tricolor in our hand and nothing can stop this yatra until we hoist the flag in Srinagar,” the former Congress president said.
Heaping praise on great Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji, Rahui sald: “I am starting the Maharashtra leg of the yatra after seeking the blessings of the Maratha warrior-king. I am walking from Kanyakumari to Kashimi to listen to the people and understand their problems.”