A former Jammu and Kashmir bureaucrat yesterday launched a new political party at an impressive public rally.
Scores of supporters from different parts of Kashmir Valley attended the launch of Shah Faesal’s Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement (JKPM), whose slogan is “Hawa Badlegi” (winds of time will change).
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students’ leader Shehla Rashid and some other prominent people across the geographical and religious divide in the state have also joined Faesal’s party.
The launch ceremony took place at the Gindun Park in Rajbagh, which was festooned with banners and white flags carrying Faesal’s picture.
Addressing the gathering mostly comprising youth, Faesal said: “I joined the civil services 10 years back. Over the years, I realised that my diagnosis as a doctor was wrong.
“I believed that by providing roads, electricity and safe drinking water, we could change the lives of the people. But I have understood that as long as the youth in Kashmir live in a state of constant fear, as long as our mothers and sisters face the prospect of losing their dignity and dear ones, nothing will work here.
“It is natural for many to discredit a new idea and understate a revolution, when they see one in the making. Some say we are agents of the army. I am ready to face all criticism, but our pursuit to usher in a new tomorrow will continue undeterred.” 
The former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer said Kashmiri politicians were living in a state of mental siege and slavery. “This all-pervading mentality of siege has to go,” he asserted.
Faesal also spoke of his personal resolve to remain truthful. “My entire family is here in this gathering today. My little son is listening to what I say and promise. I will do nothing to prove to my son that his father made false promises or lied to his people,” he said.
The objectives of JKPM are “to work for an inclusive and pluralistic society with adequate political representation for under-privileged communities.
“Promotion of sustainable development strategies, build a progressive, gender-sensitive political institution with traditional values and modern sensibilities. To uplift marginalised communities like the Gujjars and the Bakerwals, especially after the Kathua rape case.
“To work for a transparent, clean corruption-free politics in J&K.” 
The 2010 IAS batch topper resigned from the IAS in January this year to protest unabated killings in Kashmir and the marginalisation of Indian Muslims.
Faesal blamed the central government for subverting public institutions like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
In other developments, former Kashmir chief minister and vice president of the National Conference (NC) Omar Abdullah said his party was open to a pre-poll alliance with the Congress if it agreed to NC’s seat sharing formula for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
“We have received an offer from the Congress, but we are very clear about taking forward any alliance plan only if our candidates are to contest all the Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir.” 
Kashmir has six Lok Sabha seats, three in the Valley, two in the Jammu division and one in the Ladakh division.
Abdullah also criticised the central government for not holding the state assembly elections simultaneously with the Lok Sabha poll
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