Harak Singh Rawat

Dr. Harak Singh Rawat is a prominent political leader of the Uttarakhand state in India. He is a member of Indian National Congress after being expelled from the BJP in 2022. He became the youngest Minister of Uttar Pradesh State in the year 1991 and also won assembly election from Pauri as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He has also won as an MLA from Rudraprayag, Lansdowne and Kotdwar and is one of the few leaders in the state with a wide appeal in a large area. He unsuccessfully contested as a candidate of Indian National Congress from Garhwal in 2014 Indian general election. He was expelled from BJP and the Cabinet led by Pushkar Singh Dhami stating that he has indulged in anti-party activities as he was demanding ticket for the Uttarakhand Assembly Elections 2022. He later joined Congress in the presence of former Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat.

Early life and education

Rawat completed postgraduate work in arts in 1984 and earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Military Science from Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand in 1996.

Controversies

Supreme Court of India held Mr Rawat and divisional forest officer Kishan Chand responsible for felling of thousands of trees in Corbett Tiger Reserve and causing damage to the environment. It said “In blatant disregard of the law and for commercial purposes the then forest minister and DFO Kishan Chand indulged in illicit felling of trees on a mass scale to construct buildings on pretext of tourism promotion". The Supreme Court further directed the state government to restore the forest back to its original condition and recoup the costs from the minister and the DFO.
Mr. Rawat has also been accused of protecting the DFO by giving him postings against the forest secretary recommendation of suspending him due to irregularities allegations against the DFO in his prior postings.

Politics

In 2017 elected from Kotdwara Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha
In 2012 elected from Rudraprayag Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha
In 2007 elected as Leader of opposition Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha
In 2007 was re-elected from Lansdowne Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha
In 2002 after winning from Lansdowne Constituency was designated Cabinet Minister of four departments – Revenue, Food & Civil Supplies, Disaster Management and Rehabilitation
In 2002 was elected as MLA from 32 Lansdowne Vidhan Sabha Constituency
In 1997 was appointed member of Uttar Pradesh Congress Working Committee
From 1997–present member of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee
In 1997 was appointed vice-chairman in Uttar Pradesh Khadi Gram Udyog Board
In 1993 was re-elected as M.L.A. from Pauri Assembly
From 1991 to 1993 was youngest Tourism Minister in U.P.
In 1991 won assembly election from Pauri and became youngest Minister of U.P. State