Calgary MP Deepak Obhrai, a beloved figure on Parliament Hill, dean of the federal Conservative caucus and the first Hindu politician ever elected to the House of Commons, has died after a brief and aggressive battle with liver cancer, his family announced Saturday.“Deepak was a constant source of joy inside the Conservative caucus,” said a statement from a “heartbroken” leader Andrew Scheer, with whom Obhrai shared the battle to lead the party in 2016 and 2017.
Obhrai represented Calgary Forest Lawn since 1997 and was the longest-serving Conservative MP and Indo-Canadian in Parliament. He was also the longest-serving parliamentary secretary to a minister of foreign affairs in Canadian history. Obhrai was diagnosed a few weeks prior with stage 4 liver cancer in Calgary. Relatives said in a release that they were “shocked by his sudden departure.
“I will always have fond memories of the time we spent together during the Conservative Party of Canada leadership race,” said Scheer.