my uttarakhand news Bureau
Haridwar, 26 Nov: The mortal remains of veteran UKD leader and leading statehood agitationist Diwakar Bhatt were cremated with full state honours at the Kharkhari cremation ground in Haridwar today. Bhatt’s son Lalit Bhatt performed the last rites as a huge crowd bid him a tearful farewell. Before the cremation, a final procession was taken out from his residence till the cremation ground, which witnessed a large turnout of people from different walks of life. Several prominent political leaders also reached Haridwar to pay homage to Diwakar Bhatt, underlining the wide respect he commanded across party lines.
On behalf of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, District Magistrate Mayur Dikshit and SSP Haridwar Pramendra Singh Dobhal paid floral tributes by laying a wreath on his mortal remains. After a guard of honour and final salute by the police, the mortal remains were consigned to flames at the Kharkhari cremation ground with full state honours. Leaders present described Bhatt’s demise as an irreparable loss for Uttarakhand, noting his long struggle for the creation of the state and his contribution as a key face of the statehood movement.
Former Chief Minister and former Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank expressed deep grief over Bhatt’s death. Nishank recalled that he had fought alongside Bhatt for statehood in the eighties and described the passing away of Bhatt as a monumental loss for the hill state. He said Diwakar Bhatt’s restlessness for Uttarakhand’s creation and his unwavering commitment to the cause were well known to all and would always find an eminent place in the state’s history. Across Uttarakhand, a wave of mourning was reported following the news of his demise, reflecting the emotional connect he had built with the people through decades of activism and public life.
Former Central President of Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) Kashi Singh Airy said Diwakar Bhatt was a great soldier of the state movement who remained consistently concerned about Uttarakhand’s interests even after the formation of the state. He observed that Bhatt’s departure was a loss for the entire state and asserted that all those associated with the movement would continue to follow the path shown by him. Airy also underlined that Bhatt was regarded as a strong pillar of the Uttarakhand agitation and as a leader who never compromised on the rights of the hill region.
Congress State President Ganesh Godiyal stated that Diwakar Bhatt was a true social worker of Uttarakhand who always lived and breathed the spirit of “Uttarakhandiyat”. He said the state had lost a stalwart who dedicated his life to public service and prayed that the Almighty grant him rebirth in Uttarakhand itself, reflecting the deep emotional bond between Bhatt and the land he served. Godiyal added that Bhatt’s life would continue to inspire future generations of political and social workers in the hill state.
Among those who paid homage to the late Diwakar Bhatt included former Chief Minister Harish Rawat, Haridwar MLA Madan Kaushik, Ranipur MLA Adesh Chauhan, Jwalapur MLA Ravi Bahadur, Laksar MLA Mohammad Shahzad, MLA Munna Singh Chauhan, BJP District President Ashutosh Sharma, former Cabinet Minister Harak Singh Rawat, former Minister Pritam Singh Panwar, Congress State President Ganesh Godiyal, UKD President Surendra Kukreti, former UKD President Kashi Singh Airy, former Minister of State Mahendra Pratap, SP City Abhay Pratap Singh, City Magistrate Kushma Chauhan and HRDA Secretary Manish Singh, along with a large number of local residents and supporters.
Ravindra Jugran pays tribute to Diwakar BhattDehradun, 26 Nov: Former leader of the statehood movement Ravindra Jugran paid tribute to the late Diwakar Bhatt (Field Marshal) and said that revolutionary fighters like him are born only once in many decades.
Jugran said that barely six hours before the Shriyantra Tapu incident, he was present at the site with Diwakar Bhatt. Jugran further said that Diwakar Bhatt’s fast at Khait Parvat in Tehri Garhwal had shaken the then Uttar Pradesh government to its core.
Ravindra Jugran added that Diwakar Bhatt was someone who could be handled only by the revered Indramani Badoni, and no one else could control him.
About The Author
