Senior Congress leader and former minister Arif Aqeel passed away during treatment in a private hospital in Bhopal on Monday. His MLA son Atif Aqeel said that he was admitted to Apollo Sage Hospital on Sunday evening after complaining chest pain. Doctors had kept his father on ventilator support. At 3.30 pm, the funeral procession of former minister Arif Aqeel started from his residence at Laxmi Talkies Sarai. Namaz-e-Janaza was offered on Bal Vihar Road. He was laid to rest in the cemetery located at Bada Bagh. The markets in the old city of Bhopal remained closed on the death of the former minister. Arif Aqeel became MLA for the first time in 1990. After this, he was elected MLA from Bhopal North seat in 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2018. For the first time in 1998, he was made Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Backward Classes and Minority Welfare, Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department. For the second time in 2018, he was made the Minister of Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department and Backward Classes and Minority Welfare, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) departments. Arif Aqeel always wore slippers. When he was going to welcome Rahul Gandhi on the stage of a program, Rahul was looking at his slippers. During that time Jyotiraditya Scindia used to be in Congress. Arifs health deteriorated in the beginning of 2023. Blockages were found in his heart during the examination. He underwent surgery at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. After the surgery, he refused to contest the elections and the party made his son Atif a candidate from Bhopal North, he went out to seek votes in a jeep and wheelchair. Arif Aqeel is called Sher-e-Bhopal. The reason for this is - despite making every effort for two decades, BJP could not defeat in his impenetrable fort Bhopal North constituency. It is said that, Arif bhai did not discriminate in work. He believed that whatever came to him was his. Senior Congress leaders including PCC Chief Jitu patwari expressed profound grief over the demise of Aqeel. Speaker Tomar expressed condolence on the X account of Madhya Pradesh Assembly.

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