In a stirring call to action, NewsClick founding editor Prabir Purkayastha declared that the most meaningful tribute to late CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury lies not in ceremony, but in sustained struggle. The real homage, he insisted, is to fiercely continue the fight for democratic rights that Yechury championed throughout his life.

Key facts

  • Prabir Purkayastha spoke at a seminar in Khammam on September 13, 2026
  • The event marked the second death anniversary of Sitaram Yechury
  • He emphasized preserving electoral rights and free, fair elections
  • CPI(M) leaders Tammineni Veerabhadram and others also spoke

The Challenge for a New Generation

Purkayastha painted Yechury as more than a party leader—he was a unifier, someone with the rare gift of bringing diverse groups together under the common banner of democratic defense. Now, that torch passes to younger hands. The challenges are clear, and they are urgent: protecting people's electoral rights, ensuring free and fair elections, and standing guard over hard-won democratic freedoms.

“The ground is ready and people are willing. Are we there to lead and unite them? These are the challenges before us. How do we unite ourselves?”

That question hung in the air—not as rhetoric, but as a genuine, pressing call to reflection and action.

A Gathering of Remembrance and Resolve

The seminar, titled 'Indian Democracy – Challenges', became both a memorial and a mobilization. Held on a Sunday evening in Khammam, it drew voices from across the CPI(M) leadership. Central Committee member Tammineni Veerabhadram, State secretariat member Pothineni Sudarshan Rao, and district secretary Nunna Nageshwara Rao all joined Purkayastha in speaking.

Together, they didn’t just honor Yechury; they also paid respects to another recently departed stalwart, Sarampalli Malla Reddy. The mood was somber but sharpened with purpose—a reminder that the work of democracy demands constant vigilance, and that the best way to remember a leader is to embody their fight.