Former IAS officer Shah Faesal, who had resigned recently to join politics, launched his political party the ‘Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Movement’ on Sunday. JNU Freelance protestor Shehla Rashid has also joined Faesal’s party, reports ANI.

Faesal, who had topped the civil service examination in 2010 batch, resigned as a “protest against unabated killings” in Kashmir and “marginalisation of Indian Muslims”. Faesal had said that he was inspired by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for their ‘political struggle’.

While addressing the gathering, Shah Faesal said, “I welcome the people of Jammu and Kashmir who have come here to attend this rally. At first, I thought I will join any prominent political party of Kashmir valley, but their reaction towards me was very negative. So, I decided to launch my own political party which will be a new platform for Kashmir valley’s youth.”

Faesal, who had referred India to ‘Rapistan’, further added that his party will work for the peaceful resolution of Kashmir as per the wishes of the people of Kashmir. “We will fight with forces intent to divide Jammu and Kashmir on the basis of religion. We will represent Kashmir’s youth. We will work for the health sector will finish corruption from the state,” Shah Faesal said.

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Shah Faesal said that his intention to launch a party was to provide a platform for people from all religions and castes. Faesal also said that Kashmiri Pandits were also part of the Kashmiri culture and that they should return to the valley.

Freelance protestor Shehla Rashid, who is accused of syphoning off public donations collected for Kathua rape case, has joined the party along with Shah Faesal. Reportedly, during her short speech, ironically, she called her political stunt as a peace movement. “This is not a party, but a movement for peace and development and a movement for our dignity and unity,” she said.

Shehla also requested the women to come forward and join the newly formed political party. “We need basic living facilities and we need development. We will work for the peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue,” added Rashid.

Shehla Rashid, an ultra-left wing, career protestor, who often spews venom and hate through fake news on social media has been held accountable for her actions several times. Earlier, after the heinous Kathua rape case, Rashid had run a social media campaign with others and collected money in the name of rape victim of Kathua and as well as Unnao rape case.

However, reports had emerged accusing Rashid of not keeping her part of the promise as the money never reached her. Shehla Rashid later refuted media reports even as the reporter stood his ground that the Kathua family received no money.

Recently, Rashid was also booked by the Dehradun Police for spreading rumours and fear on Twitter, in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack. On February 16, Shehla had resorted to deliberate rumour mongering after she had claimed that 15-20 female students were stuck inside a hostel and were surrounded by a mob. She claimed that police was present at the spot but were not able to disperse the mob. However, dispelling these “rumours”, the Uttarakhand Police had clarified that the Kashmiris were not trapped in a hostel.