Former IAS officer Shah Faesal launched his political party in Srinagar on March 17. The party is named ‘the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement. This came two months after the former civil servant resigned from his post as IAS officer.
The launch ceremony took place at the football ground in Gindun Park near Rajbagh police station, Srinagar.
Speaking at the launch of his political quarter, Faesal said, “I went into civil service to help people but the situation in the state has made me switch my path and I am entering into politics.”
ALSO READ: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar passes away at 63
He also praised Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for their “political commitment”. “I praise both of them because even after facing so many challenges in politics they never bowed down,” he said.
Faesal had quit government service in January 2019 to protest against the “unabated killings” in Kashmir and “lack of any sincere reach-out from the Union government.” He had also alleged “insidious attacks on the special identity of the Jammu and Kashmir and growing culture of intolerance and hate in mainland India in the name of hypernationalism.”
ALSO READ: Congress leaves 7 seats for Mayawati-Akhilesh alliance in UP
The vision document of the party stated that the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement “shall pursue a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir problem as per the will and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir State.” The party aims at achieving “sustainable peace” in the state and has also pledged to open the “ancient Silk Route civilization so that Jammu and Kashmir can reemerge as a corridor of peace between various South Asian neighbours.”
In an effort to emerge as an inclusive outfit, the party seeks “political representation for under-represented communities like Buddhists, Sikhs, Christians and Kashmiri Pandits.”
Former JNU student leader and activist Sheila Rashid also joined the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement.