Samajwadi Party MP from Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal and India's oldest parliamentarian Shafiqur Rahman Barq breathed his last on Tuesday after prolonged illness. Barq passed away at the age of 94 at a hospital in Moradabad. The news of his demise was shared by Samajwadi Party on social media X.
"The demise of senior Samajwadi Party leader and several-time MP Mr. Shafiqur Rahman Barq Saheb is extremely sad. May his soul rest in peace," said the party's official handle on X.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav paid "heartfelt tribute" to his party MP. "May the bereaved family members get the strength to bear this immense sorrow," said the SP chief in a post on X.
Last year during the special session of the Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had praised Barq for his dedication towards the House, despite the old age.
"It is a big thing that at the age of 93, Sambhal MP Dr Shafiqur Rahman Burq is also sitting in this House. There should be such loyalty towards the House," PM Modi had said.
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Five-Time MP And Four-Time MLA
A five-time MP, Barq was a founding member of the Samajwadi Party. He won the Moradabad Lok Sabha seat three times, in 1996, 1998, and 2004. In 2009 and 2019, the senior SP leader was elected as MP from Sambhal Lok Sabh seat.
He was also elected as an MLA for four times from Sambhal and had served as a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government.
Known for amplifying the voice of the Muslim community across the country, Barq started his political career with veteran politician Chaudhary Charan Singh.
He also served as the coordinator of the Babri Masjid Action Committee, as per an India Today report.