In a press conference held on 17 September at Shirali Bhawan, Udaipur, members of Left parties including CPI, CPI (M), CPI(ML), Unified Marxist Communist Party of India and the Udaipur Janhit Morcha, lashed out at Udaipur MP Dr Manna Lal Rawat for allegedly maligning the name of the late CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury and his family through questionable Facebook posts. In the meet, CPI(M) city secretary Hiralal Salvi informed the press that a report has been filed demanding legal action against Rawat by CPI(M) District Secretary Rajesh Singhvi at the Surajpole police station .

Salvi said that Rawat, in his FB posts, insinuated that the late Marxist leader was anti-Hindu and had converted to Islam after his marriage to Seema Chishti and also had leanings towards Christianity. Salvi alleged that the MP was trying to spread communal hatred. 

Rajesh Singhvi has demanded legal action against Rawat saying that the latter was inciting people against Yechury by spreading falsehoods against him through social media posts. He added that Yechury was a dignified human being who displayed excellent political and personal skills. Salvi said that under “Modi Raj”, the journey of an MP to a Minister now depends on how strong the language of communal hatred is.

CPI(ML) regional secretary Shankarlal Choudhury said that religion is an individual’s personal affair and that BJP is not its caretaker. He alleged that BJP leaders were frequently crossing Constitutional limits and insulting the Constitution. He expressed dismay over the silence of BJP leader and Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria in this matter.

CPI district Joint Secretary, Himmat Changwal stated that Leftist parties were non-communal and accorded equal respect to all religions. He further said that Sitaram Yechury was an atheist but always believed that religion was a matter between an individual and his God. And required no intermediary.

CPI district head group member Rao Guman Singh said that Dr Manna Lal Rawat was continuing to spread communal hatred and trying to create rift between communities. And that a demand would be made to the Lok Sabha head to revoke his membership of the Lok Sabha.

Udaipur Janhit Morcha co-ordinator Advocate Arun Vyas said that it is in the culture of our country to accord full respect to a deceased. People from every nook and corner will always participate in any condolence ceremony, he said. And in all fields, whether legal or government, respect is given to the deceased. He added that Sitaram Yechury was a very well-respected individual in the country who had never faced any allegations of corruption in his life. To disrespect such an individual, he said, was nothing short of mental bankruptcy.

Sitaram Yechury was born in a Telugu Brahmin family in 1952 and joined the CPI(M) at the age of 23. Following this, he never participated in any religious functions yet always gave equal respect to all religion through his writings, speeches and dealings with people. His son, Ashish Yechury, passed away due to Covid in 2021. His wife, Seema Chishti is a renowned journalist and product of an inter-faith marriage. In 2017, Yechury was honoured with the Best Parliamentarian Award for his exemplary role in the Parliament.