Shafiqur Rehman Barq, the oldest Member of Parliament in India, passed away at a private hospital in Moradabad, reportedly due to complications from a kidney infection. He had been battling weakness and illness for an extended period. He was a senior leader of the Samajwadi Party and a Member of Parliament representing Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh.
At the beginning of this month, Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party, visited the SP MP at Siddha Hospital in Moradabad to check on his well-being.
In a post on X, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed sorrow over the passing of the senior SP leader, stating, “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. May the bereaved family members get the strength to bear this immense sorrow.”
समाजवादी पार्टी के वरिष्ठ नेता, कई बार के सांसद जनाब शफीकुर्रहमान बर्क साहब का इंतकाल, अत्यंत दु:खद।
उनकी आत्मा को शांति दे भगवान।
शोकाकुल परिजनों को यह असीम दु:ख सहने का संबल प्राप्त हो।
भावभीनी श्रद्धांजलि ! pic.twitter.com/AJwV2Y795s
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) February 27, 2024
Jayant Chaudhary, a leader of the RLD, also expressed condolences for the passing of the senior SP leader, “My condolences on the death of Shri Shafiqur Rahman Barq ji. He was a leader with a real connect with the grassroots!
Born on July 11, 1930, Shafiqur Rehman Barq embarked on his political journey alongside former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh. He notably served as the coordinator of the Babri Masjid Action Committee, advocating for the Muslim community nationwide.
During the formation of the Samajwadi Party, Barq collaborated closely with its founder, Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Barq, a four-time MLA, secured his fifth term as MP from Sambhal in 2019. Previously, he represented the Muradabad Lok Sabha seat thrice (in 1996, 1998, and 2004) and the Sambhal Lok Sabha seat twice (in 2009 and 2019) under the SP banner. He had been selected by the SP as the candidate for Sambhal in the 2024 election as well.
Shafiqur Rahman Barq attracted attention for his controversial remarks regarding ‘Vande Mataram’ and the Taliban’s assumption of power in Afghanistan. In August 2021, the Samajwadi Party MP faced legal action for equating ‘Taliban terrorists’ with India’s freedom fighters. Expressing support for the change in governance in Afghanistan, Shafiqur Rahman Barq asserted that the Taliban is striving for the liberation of their nation, emphasizing the Afghan people’s desire for freedom under its rule.
