Won’t join separatist Hurriyat: IAS officer

SRINAGAR: Shah Faesal, the Kashmiri IAS officer who quit the coveted all-india service to join politics, said on Friday he would not join the separatist Hurriyat Conference. Addressing a media conference in Srinagar, Faesal said, “I am a man from the system and would be happy to change the system by remaining in it.

“Since the Hurriyat does not subscribe to electoral politics, there is little scope for me to put my administrative skill and experience into practice by joining the Hurriyat,” said Faesal.

He said recent developments such as efforts to undermine the special status of the state, the growing lynch-mob politics outside the state, efforts to shrink space for ideological and religious minorities, the culture to undermine institutions such as the CBI and the NIA, had become something he could not stand.

“Since the service conduct rules do not permit a civil servant to freely voice his feelings, this became choking for me. Today, as I voice my feelings publicly, I feel greatly relieved,” he said.

When asked if he has decided to join the Farooq Abdullah-led National Conference, he said it was premature to say that since he would go back to the grassroots and seek ideas as to the best course he should adopt while joining electoral politics.

“I strongly believe that electoral politics is the best means to resolving the issues facing the people of the Valley, Jammu, Ladakh and the Chenab Valley which are important constituents of the state.

“I shall be visiting all these places to seek people’s views on my future course,” said Faesal.

“Yes, I have decided to fight parliamentary elections, but with which party or as an independent candidate remains yet to be decided”, he said.