Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Aug 10: The bureaucrat turned politician, Dr Shah Faesal, saying goodbye to politics came as a “big surprise.”
The IAS topper in 2010 had quit his job, eight years after him being made a part of the J&K IAS cadre.
Before saying goodbye to his job Shah Faesal had taken a one-year leave in 2018 to pursue further studies at Harvard University in the United States. Soon after coming back, he resigned from his post as a civil servant and decided to form a political party of his own. He launched Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement in March 2019.
But things changed in the erstwhile state after the government decided to remove the special status of J&K in August by abrogating Article 370. He was detained and remained in detention for nearly six months.
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “Shah Faesal’s decision to quit politics is a message to all the regional leaders that politics in J&K post August 5 is an altogether a different ball game. Times have changed and so have the political equations.”
It may be recalled that soon after Shah Faesal topped the IAS, he became the role model for the youth. After his success many Kashmiri youth tried to follow his footsteps and tried cracking the UPSC exams. During the past ten years many youth from Kashmir have become IAS officers and are serving in different parts of the country.
The analyst said, “Shah Faesal seems to have realized that politics in Kashmir is different from the politics in other States and Union Territories.”
He said, “Kashmir has many dimensions and agenda of development only is not enough. During the past seventy years, politicians in J&K have tread on different paths. Every time they had a different slogan. Kashmiris have been fed with everything from self rule to autonomy and achievable nationhood. Centre’s decision to abrogate J&K’s special status on August 5, 2019, ended all the slogans and packages which were sold to people during the past seventy years.”
It’s in place to mention here that a civil servant Arvind Kejriwal, who quit his job and joined politics in Delhi has been ruling the national capital for the past seven years. “Kejriwal becoming the Chief Minister had inspired many civil servants to follow his footsteps as people of Delhi have been impressed by his governance model,” the observer added.
He said, “Shah Faesal during his tenure as a bureaucrat tried his best to remain active but due to compulsions, he couldn’t do much.”
After quitting the government job Shah Faesal in his first political speech in Kupwara district had acknowledged that his hands were tied. Prior to August 5, 2019, Fasesal tried his best to bring all the mainstream parties at one single platform to oppose any move to revoke J&K’s special status but couldn’t do much. “Speculations are rife that he may join the administration once again. He too has hinted that he would like start a second inning as a bureaucrat. Now it remains to be seen whether the government will consider him or not,” the observer added.
Shah Faesal’s decision to quit politics a big surprise!
Shah Faesal quits politics, may re-join administration
Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Aug 10: Bureaucrat-turned-politician Shah Faesal on Monday resigned as president of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement(JKPM), the party which he had formed in March 2019.
The announcement of Faesal quitting politics was made by Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement.
“Dr Shah Faesal had informed State Executive Members that he is not in a position to continue with political activities and wants to be freed from the responsibilities of the organisation. Keeping in view this request, it was decided to accept his request so that he can better continue with his life and contribute whichever way he chooses,” reads the statement issued by JKPM .
Two days ago, Faesal had removed from his twitter bio his designation as the president of JKPM. According to sources, Faesal may either re-join administration or go to US for further studies.
“His resignation has not been accepted yet by the Department of Personnel and Trainings because inquiry was still underway for his tweets,” sources disclosed.
Days after abrogation of Article 370 by BJP-led Central government , security agencies had detained Fasesal at Delhi airport and sent him back to Kashmir. He was later lodged at SKICC and MLA hostel, which were designated as subsidiary jails, and he remained under detention for six months under .
In February this year, he was detained under Public Safety Act, which allows detention without a trial for period of three months. On May 13, his detention period was extended by three months. However, his PSA detention was revoked on June 3, 2020. (KNO)
No clue about Faesal joining administration again: Govt
Junaid Shah
Srinagar, Aug 10: Jammu and Kashmir government Monday said that it has no clue whether Shah Faesal is to join administration again.
Lieutenant Governor’s Advisor, B R Bhatnagar told news agency Kashmir Indpeth News Service (KINS) that they have no clue whether Faesal is joining back to the administration. “Let me verify, I have no clue,” he said.
Faesal had topped the 2010 civil services exam and was made a part of the J&K cadre of the IAS.
In 2018, he took a sabbatical of one year to go for studies to Harvard in the US. Soon after coming back, he decided to form a political party of his own.
In 2009, he became the first Kashmiri to place first in the Indian Civil Services Examination.
During his career as a civil servant, Faesal served in postings such as deputy commissioner (Bandipora), assistant commissioner (Pulwama) and director school education, Kashmir.
He resigned from the bureaucracy in protest on January 9, 2019, citing “unabated killings” in Kashmir among other things.
On 4 February 2019, Faesal began his political life by giving a public speech in his hometown of Kupwara and shortly after on March 16, 2019 he announced that he would be launching his own political party, the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement (JKPM).
Faesal was born in the Sogam area of Lolab Valley, a district in Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir. His father, Ghulam Rasool Shah, was a teacher, not only was his father a teacher, but his mother, as well as grandfather were teachers.
JKPM was launched by him in 2019, but things changed in the erstwhile state after the government decided to remove the special status of J&K in August by abrogating Article 370.
I don’t want to take Kashmiris down the garden path: Shah Fasesal
New Delhi, Aug 10: Bureaucrat-turned-politician Shah Faesal, in his first statement since release said that he does not want to lead ‘Kashmiris down the garden path’.
Speaking to India Today TV Shah Faesal said, “I am ending my short gig with politics. Let the truth be told. I don’t want to take Kashmiris down the garden path.”
He hinted he would start afresh, but did not confirm or deny his re-entry as an administrator. Shah Faesal’s resignation had not been accepted. “There is a new reality in Kashmir and we have to come to terms with it. As a member of IAS, I have been a stakeholder in the future of this nation. I can’t imagine why some people would be anti-India. I can’t be seen as a traitor to a nation that has given me everything in life. I want to move on and start afresh. In whatsoever position that is,” Shah Faesal said.
Shah Faesal said he is taking a day at a time, “Life can’t stop. We have huge challenges of poverty, illiteracy, inequality and unemployment in front of us. I can’t waste my life in chasing illusions when there is so much to be done for the ordinary people. Where will I go next, only time will tell. But as of now, I am sure that I need to move and spread some positivity in my life and in the lives of others.”
Precedents of civil servants rejoining posts
There are precedents of IAS officers quitting the service to pursue their political ambitions and later rejoining their posts.
Sajjad Hussain Mufti, kin of Mehbooba Mufti, had quit the Indian Forest Services in 2014 and later rejoined it in 2018. Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey had quit as an IPS officer five years before his appointment as the top cop.
Feroz Peerzada is JKPM president
Javed Mustafa Mir quits party
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 10: After former IAS topper Dr Shah Faesak steps down, Vice President (VP) Feroz Peerzada was appointed new president of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement (JKPM) here on Monday.
An emergency online meeting of the State Executive Committee of the JKPM was held to discuss the political development, particularly request from former president Dr Shah Faesal to spare him from all organizational responsibilities.
His request to step down was accepted and vice-president Feroz Peerzada was appointed President of the party till formal election for the past is held by the JKPM.
The committee also accepted the resignation of chairman Javed Mustafa Mir former minister and legislator.
Mir, who resigned from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)has been under house arrest since August 5, 2019, when centre abrogated Article 370 and 35 besides divided the state into two Union Territories (UTs).
COVID-19 claims 9 more lives, J&K toll 483
Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, Aug 10: Nine more people died due to COVID-19 in Kashmir since overnight, taking the fatality count due to the virus to 482 in J&K, officials said on Monday.
Among the victims, official sources told GNS include a 70-year-old man from Palpora Kulgam, an elderly woman from Buchoo Tral Pulwama, a 65-year-old man from Chidibugh Tral Pulwama, a 71-year-old man from Yaripora Kulgam, a 45-year-old man from Palpora Srinagar, a sexagenarian man from Arampora Ganderbal, a 47-year-old man from Rainawari Srinagar and a 65-year-old woman from Budgam.
Regarding the septuagenarian from Palpora Kulgam, a doctor at district hospital Kulgam said that the he was brought to hospital yesterday and died on the same day. “The family had called officials on COVID-19 helpline and later be was brought the hospital and died shortly after admission. His test returned positive for the novel coronavirus later,” the doctor added.
The woman from Buchoo Tral was admitted to SMHS hospital as a case of bilateral community acquired pneumonia and died last night at SMHS hospital. “Her COVID swab was detected as positive,” a senior official said. A relative of the woman told GNS over phone that by mistake her residence was registered as Kulgam instead of Buchoo Tral. “She died at around 7 p.m. last night (August 9). Subsequently we took the body by undertaking that we will follow the covid-19 protocol and later we were informed that her sample has returned positive for the virus,” the relative added.
Regarding the 65-year-old man from Tral, they said, he was admitted to SMHS hospital on August 1 and was later diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia. “He died at 1 p.m. on August 10,” they said.
Regarding the man from Yaripora, they said, he was admitted on August 01 and was as a case of “BHP, HTN and bilateral viral Pneumonia,” He passed at around 1:10 p.m.,” they said.
Meanwhile, a regarding four others deaths, they said, two each were reported from SKIMS Soura and SMHS here. All of them had underlying ailments, they said.
Regarding man from Rainawari, they said, he was admitted with bilateral pneumonia to SMHS hospital on August 1 and passed away on Sunday night.
The woman from Budgam, they said, was admitted to the SMHS hospital on 23 July with bilateral pneumonia and lost battle with the disease on Monday morning.
Regarding the man from Palpora, Srinagar, officials at SKIMS Soura said that he was admitted on 21 July and died today.
Regarding the man from Arampora Ganderbal, the officials said, he was admitted on August 6 and died today.
With these deaths, officials said, 482 people have died due to the virus in Jammu and Kashmir so far. Among them, they said, 48 were from the Valley while 35 others from Jammu division.
Srinagar district with 156 deaths tops the list followed by Baramulla (82), Budgam (36), Anantnag (33), Kulgam (32), Pulwama (32), Kupwara (27), Shopian (24), Jammu (23), Bandipora (18), Ganderbal (8), two each in Rajouri, Doda and Udhampur besides one each in Ramban, Samba, Poonch, and Kathua.
COVID-19: JK reports 470 fresh cases, tally at 25367
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Aug 10: As many as 470 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday thus taking the tally of infected persons in the Union Territory to 25367, officials said.
They said 368 fresh cases were reported in Kashmir and 102 in Jammu region.
They said that moreover, 372 more COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from various hospitals, 90 from Jammu Division and 282 from Kashmir Division.
According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Corona virus (Covid-19), out of 25367 positive cases, 7514 are Active Positive, 17375 have recovered and 478 have died; 35 in Jammu division and 443 in Kashmir division.
The Bulletin further said that out of 725542 test results available, 700175 samples have been tested as negative till August 10, 2020.
Additionally, till date 395216 travelers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been enlisted for observation which included 40932 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 7514 in isolation and 48716 under home surveillance. Besides, 297576 persons have completed their surveillance period.
Providing district-wise breakup, the Bulletin said that Srinagar has 6263 positive cases (including 115 cases reported today) with 2411 Active Positive, 3698 recovered (including 95 cases recovered today), 154 deaths; Baramulla has 2178 positive cases (including 41 cases reported today) with 453 Active Positive, 1643 recovered (including 29 cases reported today), 82 deaths; Pulwama reported 1860 positive cases (including 30 cases reported today) with 689 active positive cases and 1140 recovered (including 32 cases recovered today) and 31 deaths; Kulgam has 1619 positive cases (including 10 cases reported today) with 170 Active Positive and 1418 recoveries (including 08 cases reported today) and 31 deaths; Shopian has 1534 positive cases (including 14 cases reported today) with 190 Active Positive, 1320 recovered (including 12 recoveries today) and 24 deaths; Anantnag district has 1569 positive cases (including 16 cases reported today) with 344 Active Positive, 1192 recovered (including 06 cases recovered today), 33 deaths; Budgam has 1568 positive cases (including 31 cases reported today) with 449 Active Positive and 1084 recovered (including 30 cases recovered today) cases and 35 deaths; Kupwara has 1273 positive cases (including 17 cases reported today) with 236 Active Positive, 1010 recovered (including 34 cases recovered today), 27 deaths; Bandipora has 1101 positive cases (including 79 cases reported today) with 453 Active Positive, 630 recovered (including 19 cases recovered today) and 18 deaths and Ganderbal has 689 positive cases (including 15 cases reported today) with 297 active positive cases and 384 recoveries (including 17 cases recovered today) and 08 deaths.
Similarly, Jammu has 1613 positive cases (including 58 cases reported today) with 746 active positive cases and 843 recoveries (including 29 cases recovered today), 24 deaths; Rajouri has 763 positive cases (including 05 cases reported today) with 235 active positive cases, 525 recovered, 03 deaths; Ramban has 605 positive cases (including 16 cases reported today) with 57 active positive, 547 recoveries (including 12 cases recovered today), 01 death; Kathua has 602 positive cases (including 08 cases reported today) with 90 Active positive, 511 recovered (including 07 cases recovered today), 01 death; Udhampur has 625 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 204 active positive cases, 419 recovered (including 04 case recovered today), 02 deaths; Samba has 522 positive cases (including 05 cases reported today) with 184 Active Positive and 337 recoveries (including 05 cases recovered today), 01 death; Doda has 315 positive cases (including 04 cases reported today) with 36 active positive cases, 277 recoveries (including 16 cases reported today), 02 deaths; Poonch has 275 positive cases with 96 active positive, 178 recoveries (including 05 cases recovered today), 01 death; Reasi has 228 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 144 active positive, 84 recoveries (including 04 cases reported today) and Kishtwar has 165 positive cases (including 02 cases reported today) with 30 active positive cases; 135 recoveries (including 08 cases recovered today).
According to the bulletin, of the total 25367 positive cases in J&K 5047 have been reported as travelers while 20320 as others.
The Bulletin said that the breakup represents districts from which the patients have been traced or are ordinarily residing.
The bulletin has informed the people that, the best way to protect themselves from COVID-19 is by maintaining physical distance of at least 2 metre from others, frequently cleaning hands with an alcohol based hand sanitizer or washing them with soap and water and following good respiratory etiquette and hygiene.
As a measure for social distancing in public places and workplaces wearing a face cover is compulsory.
The bulletin again explained that early detection of COVID-19 can prevent the spread of disease so we need to be responsible for the well-being of ourselves and everyone around us. “Not disclosing symptoms could put life of individuals and their families at risk. In case of symptoms like fever, cough and difficulty in breathing report early. Do not fear, call COVID-19 helpline numbers and seek medical advice”.
Advisory has further exhorted upon the people not to step out of home, unless absolutely necessary. “If you have to move out for unavoidable reasons, ensure that you wear a mask and practice social distancing, personal hygiene and frequent handwashing with soap and water.”
In case of any emergency people can avail free ambulance services 24×7 at their doorsteps by calling on toll-free number 108 while as pregnant women and sick infants can avail free ambulance services by dialling toll-free number 102.
People can also call on toll-free national helpline number 1075; J&K COVID-19 Helpline Numbers 0191- 2549676 (UT level Cell), 0191-2520982, 0191-2674444, 0191-2674115 (For Jammu Division), 0194-2440283 & 0194-2430581 (For Kashmir Division) for support, guidance, and response to health-related queries on Novel Corona virus Disease (COVID-19).
Public is advised to strictly follow the advisories issued by the government from time to time and rely only on the information released by the government through the daily media bulletin to print and electronic media.
People are also advised to refrain from spreading rumours and pay no heed to them at the same time.
Russia to register world’s first COVID-19 vaccine tomorrow
New Delhi, Aug 10: The Russian COVID-19 vaccine candidate, being jointly developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute and the country’s Defence Ministry, is set to get registered on August 12 (Wednesday) reports suggest.
This would be the first vaccine candidate against the novel coronavirus to get registered.
News reports quoted Russia’s Deputy Health Minister Oleg Gridnev as confirming that the development. “The vaccine developed by the Gamaleya centre will be registered on August 12. At the moment, the last, third, stage is underway,” Gridnev said.
The junior health minister said that medical professionals and senior citizens will be the first to get vaccinated. Mass production of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine is expected to begin in October.
This development comes days after the World Health Organization (WHO) warned Russian authorities to follow established guidelines for producing safe and effective vaccines. The warning came as Moscow moved swiftly to begin producing vaccine doses.
Dr Anthony Fauci, United States’ top infectious disease specialist, had also questioned the fast-track approach. “I do hope that the Chinese and the Russians are actually testing a vaccine before they are administering the vaccine to anyone because claims of having a vaccine ready to distribute before you do testing I think is problematic at best,” he said.
Gamaleya’s candidate is a so-called viral vector vaccine which is based on human adenovirus fused with SARS CoV-2’s spike protein to stimulate an immune response in the body. It is said to be similar to a vaccine candidate being developed by China’s CanSino Biologics.
It was earlier reported that a number of individuals belonging to Russia’s political and business elite had been given early access to the experimental vaccine. Russian billionaires and government officials reportedly started getting shots of a potential vaccine as early as April.
COVID-19: Former Prez Mukherjee tests positive
New Delhi, Aug 10: Former President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday tested positive for COVID.
This information was given by Mukherjee in a tweet.
The former President requested the people who came in contact with him in the last week, to self isolate and get tested for COVID-19.
‘On a visit to the hospital for a separate procedure, I have tested positive for COVID19 today. I request the people who came in contact with me in the last week, to please self isolate and get tested for COVID-19,’the former President tweeted.
Pranab Mukherjee is the latest among the high profile dignitaries to test positive for COVID.
Earlier this month , Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal tested positive for COVID19.
July 18 Shopian encounter:Family members of 3 Rajouri missing youth demand DNA mapping of slain
Army investigating the matter, says defence spokesman
Jahangeer Ganaie
Shopian, Aug 10: The family members of three missing youth from Rajouri district of Jammu region on Monday demanded DNA mapping of the trio killed in the Shopian encounter on July 18 fearing that the slain may be their kin.
The families of the three missing youth said they are not sure whether their children are those killed in Shopian gunfight on July 18 but want to be sure through DNA cross examinations.
With social media abuzz with the reports that the encounter was “stage managed,” the army said that it has noted social media inputs linked to the operation at Shopian on July 18. The army said that militants remained unidentified and that it has ordered investigations into the matter.
Three families from Rajouri district filed missing reports of their kin on Sunday at Peeri Police station Rajouri
A police official told Kashmir News Observer that family members of three youth namely Ibrar Ahmed son of Bagha, Imtiaz Ahmed S/o Sabir Hussain both residents of PH Dhar (Kathuni) Rajouri and third one also Ibrar Ahmed son of M Yousuf resident of Tarkassi, Rajouri filed their missing report on Sunday.
Till July 17, the family members said all three were in touch with their parents. “But on July 18 the phones of all three came as switched off,” a family member of one of the missing youth told the news agency . “After failing to trace them, we lodged missing report on Sunday at concerned police station. Our demand now is that police chief DGP and IGP Kashmir should allow exhumation of bodies for DNA mapping. We are ready for cross examinations of the samples. The photographs of the slain that have gone viral suggest they are our children.”
Hussian Ahmad, brother-in-law of one of the missing youth said the bodies of three youth killed in Amshipora, Shopian encounter should be exhumed and their DNA cross examinations done. “We should be allowed to identify them as well,” Ahmad said.
On July 18, J&K police in a statement said that on a specific input by 62RR about presence of militants in village Amshipora area of District Shopian, an operation was launched in the area.
“During search militants fired upon Army personnel and the encounter started. Later on police and CRPF also joined. In the encounter, three unidentified militants were killed,” the police statement had said. “Bodies of all the killed three militants were retrieved from the site of encounter and the identification and affiliation of the slain is being ascertained.”
The police statement had read that the bodies of the killed militants were sent to Baramulla for their last rites after conducting medico-legal formalities including collection of their DNA and in case any family claims the killed militants to be their kith or kin, they can come forward for their identification and participation in last rites at Baramulla.
However, social media remained abuzz today with netizens posting updates that “July 18 Shopian encounter was stage managed and slain were labourers from Rajouri district.”
Defence Spokesman in Srinagar, Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that the army has noted social media inputs linked to the operation at Shopian on July 18. “The three militants killed during the operation have not been identified and the bodies were buried based on the established protocols. Army is investigating the matter,” he said. (KNO)
