IAS Shah Faesal comments on Rishi Sunak's appointment as British PM, says 'Only in India...'

IAS officer Shah Faesal jumps to support India in a war of words triggered on Twitter by Rishi Sunak's appointment between the BJP and the opposition. Faesal says it is not a surprise to India that Rishi Sunak has been appointed as the UK Prime Minister as it is for Pakistan because no minority can hold a top post in the government in the country. 

Congress leaders P Chidambaram and Shashi Tharoor questioned BJP's majoritarianism, and BJP replied with the example of Manmohan Singh, Abdul Kalam and Draupadi Murmu. 

"It's possible only in India that a Muslim youngster from Kashmir can go on to top the Indian Civil Service exam, rise to top echelons of the government, then fall apart with the government and still be rescued and taken back by the same government," Shah Faesal tweeted as Rishi Sunak becoming the UK PM triggered a debate.

It's possible only in India that a Muslim youngster from Kashmir can go on to top the Indian Civil Service exam, rise to top echelons of the government, then fall apart with the government and still be rescued and taken back by the same government. Rishi Saunak's appointment 1/4 — Shah Faesal (@shahfaesal) October 25, 2022

"My own life-story is about a journey, shoulder to shoulder, with each fellow citizen of this nation of 1.3 Billion people, where I have felt owned, respected, encouraged and at times pampered at every step of the way. That's India," the IAS officer wrote.

"From Maulana Azad to Dr Manmohan Singh and Dr. Zakir Hussain to HE President Droupadi Murmu, India has always been THE land of equal opportunity and the road to the top is open to all. Won't be wrong if I say I have been to the mountain top and seen it for myself," he added.

Read: British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to visit India this week to attend UNSC counter-terrorism meet

Shah Faesal was a 2010 batch IAS topper of the erstwhile J&K cadre who resigned from the services in 2019 and floated his own political party. In 2022, Shah Faesal was posted as the deputy secretary in the Union ministry for tourism.

BJP vs opposition war of words

Congress leader Chidambaram said there is a lesson that India and the parties that practise majoritarianism can learn-- in Rishi Sunak becoming the UK PM. "The people of the US and the UK have embraced the non-majority citizens of their countries and elected them to high office in government," Chidambaram tweeted.

India, which has had three Muslim and one Sikh President, a Sikh PM for 10 years, minorities in top judicial positions and even the armed forces, need not learn about diversity and inclusivity from any other country.

But Mehbooba must walk the talk and back a Hindu for J&K’s CM. https://t.co/F1Zkj9kxw7

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) October 25, 2022

Shashi Tharoor raised the question as to whether a parallel of Rishi Sunak becoming the PM will ever happen in India. The BJP was quick to point out that India had three Muslim and one Sikh President, a Sikh PM for 10 years.

BJP's Shehzad Poonawalla took a jibe at the Congress and tweeted, "I guess Dr Tharoor and P Chidambaram never really considered Dr Manmohan Singh as the PM for obvious reasons!"

I guess Dr Tharoor and P Chidambaram never really considered Dr.Manmohan Singh as the PM for obvious reasons!

Also,
Zakir Husain
Fakhruddin Ahmed
Giani Zail Singh
Abdul Kalam became Presidents#MeritNotMinority should be the criteria sadly Congress won’t get it #RishiSunak pic.twitter.com/vnsznoYblO — Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) October 25, 2022