Describing his resignation from the elite Indian Administrative Service (IAS) as ‘small act of defiance’, Shah Faesal on Friday announced to join the electoral politics to transform the system of governance in the embattled Jammu & Kashmir. Contrary to perception that he was joining the National Conference (NC), he said he would meet with stakeholders before taking a final decision.
Faesal, 35, topper of the 2009 IAS batch, resigned earlier this week shortly after completing a fellowship on governance in US based Harvard University. He said he would always take pride in his nine-year association with the elite service.
Addressing his maiden Press conference Faesal said that he resigned to remind the Central Government of its duties towards Kashmiris. “I am protesting against lack of credible political initiative by the Centre. It is important that right to life of Kashmiri people is respected,” he said.
He said that he will not join separatist Hurriyat Conference because they do not believe in the electoral system and their public support is unproven. “I am a man from the system and I 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. He said he was enough qualified to become a legislator or a Parliament member.
He said he was inspired by Imran Khan and Arvind Kejriwal but differentiated his space on the basis of being in a conflict zone. “I wish if youngsters give me support then I will be very happy to do a retake of Imran Khan and Kejriwal,” he said. He said his motive was to make people believe that electoral politics was credible institution. “We want to destroy politics the way it has been happening,” he added.
Faesal also criticised the BJP Government’s attacks on the State’s “special position and identity”, and said it was indulging in such activities for electoral gains in rest of the country. “The rise in lynch mob nationalism in our country also dejects me. There are also attempts to play one region of the Jammu & Kashmir against another,” he said.
He said his protest was against failure of the Central Government in facilitating the homecoming of Pandits. “You need to create favourable environment for the return of Pandits who are inalienable part of Kashmiri society,” he said adding that he was also pained over the loss of life of limb of border residents, especially in Jammu region.
He said the Centre undermined the national institutions and attacked personal, religious and ideological liberties. “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.
He rued over the constant attacks on the identity of J&K during the present dispensation. “The Article 370 and 35A must be guarded to strengthen the bond between India and J&K,” he said.
He said he would approach the people of India to come to the rescue of Kashmir. He said he would try to build consensus in the entire state and discourage the politics of pitching one region against the other.
Faesal praised former Chief Minister and NC vice-president Omar Abdullah. “Omar Abdullah is a gracious person and supported me. Omar is a leader who guided me always. I would like to make it clear that NC never approached me but I went to Omar Abdullah many times for suggestions,” he said.
He said Harvard University changed his outlook about careers and encouraged him to quit his job. He said that he was not being used by the ‘deep state’. “I may end up using the deep state in my favour,” he said adding that failures in any mission should not stop experimentation.