Shafiqur Rehman Barq, Samajwadi Party MP from UP's Sambhal, dies at 94

Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh, Shafiqur Rehman Barq died on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. Samajwadi Party had also fielded a candidate from Sambhal for 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Barq had been named as the SP candidate for Sambhal for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Expressing grief over the death of the senior SP leader, Samajwadi party Chief Akhilesh Yadav in a post on X said, "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".

February 27, 2024

RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary also condoled the death 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!"

Barq was the oldest member of the current Lok Sabha and had been named by the SP as the candidate for Sambhal in 2024 as well. Shafiqur Rahman Barq had been in the headlines for his controversial statements on 'Vande Mataram' and Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.In August 2021, The Samajwadi party MP was booked for comparing the 'Taliban terrorists to India's freedom fighters'.Coming out in support of the regime change in Afghanistan, Shafiqur Rahman Barq said that the Taliban is fighting for the freedom of their country and Afghan people want freedom under its leadership.

(With inputs from ANI)