Senior Samajwadi Party leader Shafiqur Rahman Barq, dies

India's oldest MP in Parliament, Shafiqur Rehman Barq, took his last breath at a private hospital in Moradabad reportedly due to a kidney infection. He was weak and unwell for some time.

The Samajwadi Party, in a post on social media, wrote, “The demise of senior Samajwadi Party leader and several-time MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq Saheb is extremely heart breaking. May his soul rest in peace. May the bereaved family members get the strength to bear this much pain. Heartfelt tribute!"

SP President Akhilesh Yadav also expressed grief over his death and offered his condolences to the bereaved family.

Born on July 11, 1930, Shafiqur Rehman Barq began his political career with former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh.

He also served as the coordinator of the Babri Masjid Action Committee and was known for amplifying the voice of the Muslim community across the country.

He also worked with Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav at the time of the party's formation.

Barq, a four-time MLA, was elected MP from Sambhal for the fifth time in 2019. Barq won the Muradabad Lok Sabha seat three times (1996, 1998, and 2004) and the Sambhal Lok Sabha seat twice (2009 and 2019) from SP.