Islamists slammed controversial IAS officer-turned-politician Shah Faesal after he praised India’s vigorous vaccination program on Twitter.
On Friday, in what seems to be a U-turn, Shah Faesal, who has on several occasions been denounced for his involvement in anti-India activities, tweeted, “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 (The Guru of the World).” His tweet was a quote-tweet to a tweet from Prime Minister Modi’s handle on the COVID-19 vaccination.
Taken by surprise on account of his apparent support to the PM, many of Faesal’s enraged supporters took to Twitter to voice their annoyance. Many called him a “bootlicker” of the present government at the Centre.
Shah Faesal had started the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement (JKPM) along with career-protester Shehla Rashid of JNU. However, Faesal had stepped down as the president of the organisation last year. It is speculated that he may return to the administrative services as his resignation has not yet been accepted by the BJP government.
Islamist Mohammed Asif Khan, who had earlier praised Faesal, now panned him for being a “bootlicker”.
A user going by the name Iqra Altaf accused Shah Faesal of “crossing all limits of boot-licking”.
This is not mere boot-licking. Yeth boot’as yii lewan chu tath chu gess meteth. https://t.co/bG7tPFeVS1
— Iqra Altaf (@iqra_math) January 22, 2021
Several other users accused him of “betraying Kashmir”.
Than relationship is over and it's haram to stay with it…you betrayed whole kashmir pic.twitter.com/lHn0Umgnz7
— ABBASS KASHMIRI ®(Official) (@abbasskashmiri7) January 22, 2021
One user went on a rant, tweeting, “People like Shah Faesal, the Abdullahs, the Muftis etc. are spineless. They willingly sell their conscience and their souls in return of favors from the majority that in turn helps them to enjoy power. They are as much responsible for the situation of Kashmiris, as is the state.”
“People like these deserve no sympathy whatsoever when the majority does the inevitable: show them their place once they’re done with them. Such people have blood of millions on their hands, which should never ever be forgotten”, they continued.
People like these deserve no sympathy whatsoever when the majority does the inevitable: show them their place once they're done with them.
Such people have blood of millions on their hands, which should never ever be forgotten.— معاذ (@backfromtheded_) January 22, 2021
Others wondered how Faesal could go from accusing PM Modi of ‘murdering the Constitution’ in an interview on the BBC to praising the same PM.
From this 👇 to this 👇
I don't know what to tell about u? @shahfaesal pic.twitter.com/AXFjfdw0HY— ناظم بشیر (@NazimIbniBashir) January 23, 2021
A user named Gulvinder Singh even called him a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”.
A wolf in sheep's clothing! Shame on you for letting people down. People who expected from you, people who had faith in you. U sold ur soul, but you were alws their B Team, who faked selflessness to fool people & play with their emotions by giving them false hopes.@shahfaesal 🖕 https://t.co/WlsuPdxL5J
— Gulvinder Singh (@rebelliousdogra) January 22, 2021
Alleged anti-India conspirator to “bootlicker”
After the abrogation of Article 370, Shah Faesal was detained at Srinagar airport, from where he was planning to fly to Turkey in a conspiacy against India. He had also addressed people at Srinagar and instigated them “against the sovereignty and integrity of India”. He had also attempted to incite violence and threatened that he would not celebrate Eid until “the last bit of insult is avenged and undone”.
It could very well be that Shah Faesal seeks to ingratiate himself with the administration to smoothen his re-entry into service and make it more agreeable to the public as well as the government. One user responded to the drama by tweeting that he hoped that Shah Faesal’s resignation was accepted. “Tax payers are not running a dhamramshala for these people to exit and enter at will”, he added.
I still hope that Shah Faesal's application of resignation is accepted, despite the polite murmurs he is making. We tax payers are not running a dharamshala for these people to exit and enter at will.
— db (@db_is_db) January 22, 2021