Congress spokesperson Rajiv Tyagi dies of heart attack, Sonia, Rahul offer condolences
NEW DELHI: Congress spokesperson and party’s prominent face on news channels Rajiv Tyagi died of a heart attack on Wednesday. He was 54.
He is survived by his wife and two sons.
Tyagi suffered an attack soon after participating in a TV debate and fell unconscious at his residence in Vaishali, Ghaziabad, the party said.
He was immediately rushed to the Yashoda Hospital in Ghaziabad, where doctors tried to revive him but could not succeed, it added. After finishing the debate, Tyagi asked his domestic help to prepare tea for him and himself lay down on his bed, his family members said. But when the help brought the tea after a few minutes, he did not respond, they said. His brother-in-law Deepak Tyagi said a nearby doctor was called for an emergency check-up, but after efforts to revive him failed.
He will be cremated on Thursday morning at Hindon crematorium, the party said.
In October last year, he was appointed as the party’s media in-charge in Uttar Pradesh. Tyagi was also a general secretary in the UP Congress.
His last tweet, posted at 3.41 pm, was about his participation in a TV debate at 5 pm.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, former party chief Rahul
Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressed grief and offered condolences to the bereaved family.
In his condolence message, Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “The Congress party has lost one of its lions today. The inspiration of Rajiv Tyagi’s love and struggle will always be remembered. My heartfelt tribute to him and condolences to the family.”
In her tweet, Priyanka Gandhi said Tyagi’s untimely demise is a big loss for all. “The untimely death of Congress spokesman Rajiv Tyagi is a personal grief to me. It is an irreparable loss for all of us. Rajiv ji was an ideologically dedicated warrior. I expressed condolences to his family on behalf of the entire Uttar Pradesh Congress. May God give strength to his family to bear this loss,” she said. “We are deeply saddened by the sudden demise of Shri Rajiv Tyagi. A staunch Congressman and a true patriot. Our thoughts and prayers are with his families & friends in this time of grief,” the Congress said on its official Twitter handle.
Leaders cutting across party lines, including union ministers Ram Vilas Paswan and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, expressed their condolences to the family.
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “Deeply saddened to hear the shocking news of untimely death of young congress leader & spokesperson Rajiv Tyagi. My heartfelt condolences to the family to bear the irreparable loss.”
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said, “Saddened and shocked to hear about the sudden demise of Congress national spokesperson Shri Rajiv Tyagi. My condolences to his family and friends in this time of grief. May his soul rest in peace.”
Party chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said he was speechless on hearing about Tyagi’s demise. He said it is a personal loss for him.