STATE TIMES NEWS
REASI: BJP State General Secretary (Org.), Ashok Koul on Sunday unveiled the statue of Dogra Rattan Rishi Kumar Kaushal at Reasi.
Besides Ashok Koul and other senior BJP leaders, the ceremony was attended by family members of late Rishi Kumar Kaushal including his sons Raman Kaushal, Dr Vipin Kaushal, Vivek Kaushal and a large number of prominent citizens of district Reasi.
Speaking on the occasion, Ashok Koul said, “Late Rishi Kumar Kaushal always adopted a human approach rather than political considerations while working for the people.”
“Rishi Kaushal also worked for rehabilitating and providing relief to the up-rooted persons of Rajouri and Reasi Tehsils. The late leader led the agitation for 27 years to restore the district status of Reasi in the nineties and early twenties and vowed that he will not shave his beard and hair till the fulfillment of the demand,” Koul said adding that the services rendered by the late leader for the cause of his constituency in particular and J&K in general will always be remembered by the generation to come.
“In 1962, Rishi Kumar Kaushal was first elected to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly from Reasi and was re-elected in 1972 and 1977 as a Jana Sangh candidate, as he was a hugely popular mass leader,” he said; To honour the contribution, Koul said that the famous Chowk of Reasi has been renamed as Rishi Kumar Kaushal Chowk.
Late Rishi Kumar Koushal was one of the towering personalities of Jammu & Kashmir, who fought for the cause of people throughout his life, Koul said adding that prior to his political career, Rishi Koushal served the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for about 8 years and held prestigious positions in the organisation.
He was General Secretary of the organisation from 1958 to 1967, Vice-President Pradesh Jan Sangh in 1967-69, Pradesh Secretary, Jan Sangh from 1969-72, and Secretary & whip of the Jan Sangh Legislature group 1962-67, Koul said adding that besides this, Rishi Kumar Kaushal was the President Beopar Mandal Reasi in 1951-53, elected Chairman TAC Reasi from 1954-61. He was closely associated with provincial and local Sanatan Dharam Sabha activities and was a staunch supporter of ‘Bhartiyata’ preached by Swami Vivekananda and Dr. Syama Prasad Mukerjee. He was also imprisoned six times for two and half years in connection with the Praja Parishad and Jan Sangh movement in the erstwhile state.
“Veteran leader had a distinguished political career and was known as the true leader of the masses. He not only worked for his Constituency but was known for extending his helping hand beside, using his good offices for the redressal of grievances faced by common man,” Koul added.