Shah Faesal, the momentary blue-eyed boy of Indian liberals who would liberate Kashmir from the brutal clutches of the demonic Indian state has now come out in the open as perhaps one of the most vociferous bhakts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government. Shah Faesal, an IAS topper has always been a subject of headlines. Although he was put under the house arrest after the revocation of Kashmir’s special status in August 2019 and kept under the same for quite some time– the detention reportedly marked a learning curve in the man’s life, as he quit politics soon after and began life in a new avatar.
This has India’s liberals all riled up. How did the Modi government, after all, manage to turn one of its most pointed critics and until recently, a borderline separatist for the “cause of Kashmir” into a person who is today praising Modi government’s vaccination campaign around the world? Taking to Twitter, while quoting a tweet of the Prime Minister, Shah Faesal said, “This is more than just a vaccination program. It’s good governance + human capital formation + nation-building + India assuming global leadership as a Jagat Guru.”
This is more than just a vaccination program.
It's good governance + human capital formation + nation building + India assuming global leadership as a Jagat Guru. https://t.co/g8K6SqKYkK
— Shah Faesal (@shahfaesal) January 22, 2021
The former anti-BJP crusader has also, interestingly, been retweeting tweets of PM Modi and other BJP leaders, in connection to India’s vaccination drive. This has led to speculations of the man taking it upon himself to send India’s leftists into a state of shock and mourning – by no less than joining the saffron party. Parallelly, Shah Faesal is perhaps looking to earn his position as an administrator back, as the man’s resignation continues to be pending before authorities, and will only be accepted or rejected after a nod by the MHA. Faesal, it seems, is hoping for a rejection of the same.
From threatening to seek revenge and warning the people of India that he would not celebrate Eid until he avenged the ‘insult’ meted out to him and the Kashmiri people following the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories, to now hailing the BJP government at the Centre, life has taken quite a turn for the better for Shah Faesal.
It would not be an overstatement by far to suggest that Shah Faesal is turning out to be a bhakt like no other of Prime Minister Modi and his governance model. The man might as well just seal the deal now and simply declare that he is an ardent supporter of PM Modi’s brand of politics.