Senior BJP leader and party's MP from Uttar Pradesh, Hardwar Dubey has passed away on Monday in New Delhi at the age of 74. After learning about his demise, several BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had expressed their condolences to the bereaving family. 

Hardwar Dubey was representing Uttar Pradesh in Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of the Parliament. He was elected to Rajya Sabha in November 2020. Regarded as one of the veteran leaders of the saffron camp in Uttar Pradesh, Dubey had also served as an MLA and a state minister. He also had decorated top posts in the party before being sent to the Parliament. 

Dubey was elected as a member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Agra Cantonment assembly in 1990s and had served as a minister in the cabinet led by the then Chief Minister Kalyan Singh in 1991. Dubey had close ties with the Sangh parivaar and its affiliate Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and he also had served as the BJP's spokesperson in Uttar Pradesh in 2011 and went on to become BJP's vice president in 2013. 

It has been reported that Dubey had suffered a heart attack and was taken to Delhi for further treatments. He was hospitalized for nearly two weeks and amid the treatments, Dubey breathed his last on Monday. His brother Nagendra Prasad Dubey said, "Dubey suffered a heart attack on June 12 and was shifted to Delhi for better treatment but could not survive and breathed his last on Monday morning at the age of 74."

Following his death, deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Brajesh Pathak and BJP state president Bhupinder Singh Chaudhary went to Agra to pay their last respects to the deceased leader. Union Minister of State for rural development, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti visited Dubey's family and conveyed the condolence message from Prime Minister Modi while on behalf of BJP national president JP Nadda, senior leader Arun Singh had paid tribute. 

During the evening hours on Monday, Dubey's last rites were performed with state honours in Agra. Paying his tribute to Dubey, Prime Minister Modi took to social media and wrote, "Deeply saddened by the demise of hardworking BJP MP Hardwar Dubey ji. He was such a grassroots leader, who will always be remembered for his important contribution in the development journey of Uttar Pradesh. May God give strength to his family and supporters in this hour of grief. Om Shanti." 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath wrote, "The demise of Honorable Rajya Sabha MP, Former Minister of Uttar Pradesh Government, Shri Hardwar Dubey ji is very sad. My condolences are with the bereaved families. May Lord Shri Ram grant the departed pious soul a place in his holy feet and strength to the bereaved family members to bear this immense sorrow. Om Shanti."