Faesal’s political posturing

Shah Faesal, the first IAS topper from Jammu & Kashmir becoming the first IAS officer from the state to quit IAS the country’s elite service to what he calls “a small act of defiance to remind the central government of its responsibility towards the people of Jammu and Kashmir” is undoubtedly a new chapter in Kashmir’s political history . He has inspired hundreds of Kashmiri youth to make their way to All India Service examination after topping the IAS examination in the year 2010 and the trend of Kashmiri youth making their way to elite services like IAS and IPS saw an unprecedented rise in the following years. Today Faesal talks about the ideas of re-imagining Kashmir’s mainstream politics to restore the faith of people in the institutions of governance and democracy the time when the trend of joining militant ranks is on the rise across Kashmir. Rather than deciding his future of action on his own Faesal has sought guidance from youth for his choice in mainstream politics even after National Conference Vice President and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in a tweet said “ I don’t expect Shah Faesal to educate himself before he speaks”. Though Faesal thanked Omar Abdullah for being kind to him but he did not announce the decision to join National Conference as was speculated in several media reports both in Srinagar and Delhi. Tending to go by the choice of youth rather than his own choice in mainstream politics could be part of Faesal’s plans to float even a new regional party in Kashmir now as he one of his statements has said “My entire life is for Kashmir now”. Faesal’s choice of politics would show the idea of his destiny in politics and keeping in view his success as a doctor and an IAS office Faesal could become a challenge even to the likes of Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti in the coming years.