Shah Faesal launches his political party

SRINAGAR — Former IAS officer Shah Faesal today floated a political party with the name ‘Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement’ at a grand rally here in Rajbagh area of Srinagar.

As per reports, hundreds of people mostly youth from different parts of Kashmir attended the inaugural function.

Former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student leader Shehla Rashid also joined the newly-floated party.

Faesal, a 2010 IAS batch topper, quit the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in January this year as a mark of protest against the “unabated killings in Kashmir and marginalization of Indian Muslims.”

Faesal in his speech while welcoming the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who came to attend this rally, said that at first, he thought he will join any prominent political party of Kashmir valley, but their reaction towards him was very negative.

“So, I decided to launch my own political party which will be a new platform for Kashmir valley’s youth,” he said.

Faesal admired Pakistan PM Imran Khan and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for their political struggle. Quoting Iqbal, Faesal said that this nation was sold in a meagre amount.

“I too had a passion to work for people. I came into IAS with a thought that if we provide irrigation and better roads, it will help to restore peace. But after 10 years, I realized that until Kashmiri youth is in distress and bloodshed continues, there is no point of development,” he said.

Faesal said that well meaning people come into civil services with a thought that they will change the lives of people and its poor people. “But seeing the leaders and their haplessness…I came to conclusion that Kashmir needs something more in the face of leadership,” he added.

Faesal said that he had decided to join a particular party. “I was in talks with various parties. Support of people and my conscience asked me to float a new political forum for my people,” Faesal said.