Kargil war hero Captain Vikram Batra’s mother and former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kamal Kant Batra died on Wednesday in Himachal Pradesh’s Palampur.
She was 77. Grieving the death of Kamal Kant Batra, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu wrote on X, “Sad news was received about the demise of Mrs. Kamalkant Batra, mother of martyr Captain Vikram Batra. We pray to God to grant Mata Ji a place at His feet and give strength to the bereaved family to bear the immense sorrow. Om Shanti!”
Kamal Kant Batra contested the Lok Sabha elections from Himachal Pradesh’s Hamipur in 2014 representing the AAP, but lost to BJP’s Anurag Singh Thakur.
Later, she resigned from AAP after a few months, citing “dissatisfaction” with the organisational structure of the party.
Her son, Captain Vikram Batra died at the age of 24 fighting the Pakistani forces during the Kargil war on July 7, 1999. His courageous actions earned him the highest wartime gallantry award ‘Param Vir Chakra’.
Batra was known in his regiment for his courage and valour. He was often referred to as “Sher Shah” in the intercepted messages of the Pakistan Army.
Before the Kargil war, he once said to a friend, “I’ll either come back after raising the Indian flag in victory or return wrapped in it, but I will come for sure.”
Batra’s punchline victory slogan ‘Yeh Dil Mange More’ became popular and a household phrase across the country.