Shah Faesal launches political outfit
Srinagar: Former IAS officer Shah Faesal on Sunday launched his political outfit -- Jammu and Kashmir Peoples' Movement (JKPM) -- here, promising a youth-oriented politics and to become a voice to help bridge the gap between the state and the Centre and India and Pakistan.
Hundreds of people, from most parts of the state, turned up at Gindun Ground in the Rajbagh area of the summer capital here to participate in the launch ceremony of his party.
Giving details about his party's vision, Faesal, who resigned from the Indian Administrative Service to protest the "unabated killings in Kashmir and marginalisation of Indian Muslims", said the JKPM would pursue the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue according to the wishes and aspirations of the people of the state.
"Our party shall pursue peaceful resolution of the Kashmir problem as per the will and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and with dignity and respect. As a mainstream political party, I want to make it clear to you that the solution to Kashmir issue finally is an issue between the two nations (India and Pakistan).
"I do not say there will be an overnight miracle, the road ahead is long and we can facilitate and become a voice to bridge the gap between the two countries as well as between Delhi and Srinagar," he said in his over 20-minute speech.
JNU student leader and activist Shehla Rashid announced her joining of Faesal's party on the occasion.
Faesal said when he joined the IAS he had thought peace can be achieved in the state through development.
"My thinking was that if we provide roads, schools, water supply, then perhaps there will be peace. (But), after ten years, I realised that till the youth here is disillusioned, till there is bloodshed here, till the chastity of our mothers and sisters is not protected and till the new generation keeps living in uncertainty, nothing will be achieved by way of development here," he said.
The 2010-batch UPSC topper said he was "surprised" to see the kind of politics done by the politicians in the state since the last 60-70 years.
"I will tell you honestly that I thought of joining a specific party. I met the leaders of that party and they give me immense respect, which I accept and am thankful about. I was in talks with other two parties, but in the meanwhile, I received a lot of abuses," he said, without naming the parties.
Faesal said the anger and outrage shown by the people especially the youth "opened my eyes".
