Veteran Uttarakhand Leader and Statehood Activist Field Marshal Diwakar Bhatt Passes Away in Haridwar

Haridwar, Uttarakhand: Uttarakhand has lost one of its most prominent statehood movement leaders, Field Marshal Diwakar Bhatt, who passed away on Monday evening at his residence in Kharkhari, Haridwar, at 4:20 PM. Bhatt had been critically ill for the past ten days and was receiving nutrition through a feeding tube. His demise has sent waves of grief through the political circles and statehood movement community in Uttarakhand.

Tributes from CM Pushkar Singh Dhami
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid tribute to Bhatt on social media platform X, highlighting his unwavering dedication to the statehood movement and public service. Dhami remarked that Bhatt’s contributions were monumental, and he prayed for the departed leader’s soul to rest in peace. He added that Bhatt’s legacy as a fearless leader who shaped Uttarakhand’s identity through relentless activism will be recorded in golden letters in history.

A Life of Struggle and Public Service
Diwakar Bhatt was a senior leader, former cabinet minister, and a founding member of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD). He played a pivotal role in the statehood movement, often at the forefront of protests and campaigns demanding a separate state. After the formation of Uttarakhand, Bhatt contested the 2002 Assembly elections from Devprayag on a UKD ticket but lost. He returned in 2007 to secure a decisive victory, establishing a strong political presence.

He later contested the 2012 elections as a BJP candidate, losing the seat, and ran as an independent in 2017 after being denied a BJP ticket. In 2022, he returned to UKD and narrowly lost to BJP candidate Vinod Kandari by 2,588 votes. Throughout his career, Bhatt remained closely connected with the people, serving as a legislator, activist, and regional leader.

Champion of the Uttarakhand Statehood Movement
Bhatt was recognized as one of the earliest and most influential faces of the Uttarakhand statehood struggle. His leadership and dedication to securing the state’s identity and rights remain widely acknowledged.

Condolences from Political Leaders
Legislator Premchand Agarwal described Bhatt’s passing as an irreparable loss for Uttarakhand and praised his lifelong commitment to the statehood cause. Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat remembered him as a pioneer of the movement and highlighted Bhatt’s “Field Marshal” title, reflecting his leadership and strategic role. Rawat suggested that Bhatt should have been provided access to top-tier medical facilities in Delhi or Mumbai and recommended posthumous recognition with honors such as the “Rashtriya Ratna” or Padma Bhushan for his immense contributions.