Ex-Godhra MLA Haresh Bhatt dies

Vadodara: Former Godhra MLA Haresh Bhatt who had come to the limelight after the 2002 post-Godhra riots passed away on Sunday following kidney-related ailments. Bhatt, 72, had settled in Ahmedabad since the last couple of years. Being a Bajrang Dal leader, BJP had fielded Bhatt as its candidate from Godhra assembly seat in 2002. He had defeated Congress’s Rajendrasinh Patel.
In 2003, Bhatt was instrumental in starting the ‘Sundarkand’ recital to mark the anniversary of Godhra Sabarmati Express carnage to pay homage to the 59 victims of the carnage that took place on February 27, 2002.
As MLA he had also made representation for setting up a sports complex, an agriculture university and a medical college in Panchmahals.