ASIAN MP, PIARA KHABRA PASSES AWAY
20 June 2007 (IANS)

Piara Singh Khabra, 82, who was the oldest member of the House of Commons after former prime minister Edward Heath died in 2001, passed away following complications with his liver, at the Hammersmith Hospital. Khabra, a Labour MP who represented Ealing Southall since 1992, died on Tuesday 19 June 2007.

Born into a Sikh family in India's Punjab, Khabra attended Khalsa High School and Panjab University, earning a degree in social services. He served in the Indian Army between 1942 and 1946, and emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1959.

He worked as a teacher and social worker, becoming a leading member of the Asian community in Southall. Khabra was a leading figure of the Indian Workers' Association and was active in opposition to the far right. He became a Justice of the Peace in 1977 and entered parliament in 1992.

Khabra was a member of the constitutional affairs select committee and had a special interest in India. His parliamentary researcher Julian Bell told the BBC that he was a "remarkable servant of the people".

He said: "At an age when most people had long since retired he was still energetically tackling individual and constituency problems. His service and political wisdom will be sadly missed."

Prime Minister Tony Blair led MPs in paying tribute to him in the House of Commons. He said: "He was a tireless campaigner, particularly on the issues of international development and racial equality. He was a tremendous servant to his constituents. He will be greatly missed and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time."