Inspired by Imran Khan, Kejriwal, have my entire life for Kashmir now: Shah Faesal

Says ‘No plans to join any existing mainstream party, won’t join Hurriyat’

Srinagar: The IAS topper Shah Faesal who resigned from the country’s elite service recently, Friday said that he is deeply inspired by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, stating that he would like to serve the people of Kashmir, saying his entire life is for Kashmir now.
However, the record maker IAS officer also said that he has no plans to join any existing mainstream party ‘as of now’.
As per Kashmir News Service (KNS) correspondent, addressing a press conference here at a hotel in Rajbagh, Shah Faesal said that he has no plans to join any existing mainstream political party ‘as of now’. He also rejected to join the Hurriyat, saying that he is the man from the system and would be happy to change things by being in the system.
“Hurriyat doesn’t give me that opportunity as they don’t believe in electoral politics,” he said while reacting to a question asked to him over the tweet of Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. He said that Mirwaiz’s tweet was not an invitation but a suggestion.
“I am qualified enough to become Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) or Member of Parliament (MP),” he said while reacting to a question of a journalist in a presser.
“As of now, I have no plans to join any existing mainstream political party. My future course of action lies in the suggestions of the youth whom he is scheduled to meet from tomorrow. We will reach to consensus before taking the final decision,” he said. Referring to a query, Shah Faesal said that he is deeply inspired by Pak PM Imran Khan and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal but “as we are operating in a conflict zone and is not very easy for us to work in that space, which is not pleasant. I wish if youngsters give me support then I will be very happy to do a retake of Imran Khan and Kejriwal.”
Asked whether he is going to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections, Shah said, “I believe parliamentary and assembly is an important space. We need well-meaning people there. Due to de-legitimization of mainstream politics, youth were not interested towards that politics. We need to change that. I would like to use parliament an important and useful tool of engagement for bringing solution to our state.”
“I will make people believe that it is a credible institution and not to destroy people. We want destroy the politics the way it has been happening,” he added.
He said that after resigning from the country’s elite service has no work now and his entire life is for Kashmir now.
Reacting to a question over mixed response by denizens on social media over his joining of politics, Shah Faesal said, “The movement you started own party, people believe it is sponsored by agencies. If you contest independently then you are an agency person for them. If you join exiting party, then people have problem with that too. We will take any decision once I get suggestions from the youth. I will go to the grass-root level and will start work.”
In reply to a question, Shah Faesal also praised the former chief minister and Nationals Conference (NC) Vice President during the presser, saying “Omar is a gracious person and supported me. Omar is a leader who guided me always. I would like to make it clear in this press conference that NC never approached me but I went to Omar Abdullah for suggestions,” he said.
Shah Faesal in the beginning of the press conference said it is an important day of his life after serving the people from past nine years at different posts.
He reiterated that he resigned from country’s elite service as mark of protest, saying rise of lynch mob extremism is another reason for my decision.
The culture of undermining the institutions like CBI, NIA are part of the provocations that have resulted in my decision to resign from the IAS,” he said, adding that the return Kashmir Pandits should be made possible, which the Central government hasn’t done so far.
He added that there were constant attacks of the identity of Jammu and Kashmir, adding that “Article 370 and 35A must be guarded to strength the bound between India and Jammu and Kashmir.” (KNS)