Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, Dec 26: A statue of former MLA, Late Rishi Kumar Koushal was unveiled at IRP Chowk, Reasi, here today.
J&K BJP General Secretary (Org), Ashok Koul unveiled the statue in presence of the family members of Rishi Kumar Koushal and large gathering of people from all across Reasi.
Terming Rishi Kumar Koushal’s role as epoch making, Koul said that his entire life was dedicated to serve the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
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Yograj Mengi, a social activist, who had taken the initiative of installing the statue of Rishi Kumar Koushal, also spoke on the occasion. He threw light on the life of Rishi Kumar Koushal, who was born on September 5th 1926.
Rishi Kumar Koushal left his college in 1945 to become a full time Pracharak of RSS. During 1947, Koushal worked for rehabilitating and providing relief to up-rooted persons of Rajouri and Reasi Tehsils. He was the founder member of the Praja Parishad during 1947 and General Secretary of the organisation from 1958-67. He actively participated in various protests and agitations for the abrogation of Article 370 and complete integration of J&K state with India. Koushal was elected first time member to Legislative Assembly in 1962 from Reasi and was re-elected again in the years 1972 and 1977.
In the year 1980, he kicked off an agitation demanding district status for Reasi. He pledged that he would not shave his hair and beard till the demand was fulfilled. A day after Rishi Kumar Koushal’s birthday, Reasi saw a great dharna on September 6, 1988 against the Government, demanding the district status for Reasi and the town observed complete shutdown continuously for 72 days.
After 26 years of fight and struggles for the district status, he succeeded in 2006 when the then Chief minister of the State Gulam Nabi Azad cut the first hair of his beard personally out of respect towards him and in celebration for successfully achieving the status of district for Reasi.
The programme of unveiling of statue was followed by a public meeting which was graced by the prominent citizens, family members of Late Rishi Kumar Koushal and the followers of the Tiger of Trikuta Hills.
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