Nazir Ahmad Gurezi
J&K Legislative Assembly deputy speaker: Nazir Ahmad Gurezi

Managing ruckus resounding in the house can get on your nerves — ask Mohammad Akbar Lone! But the ongoing state assembly session is witnessing a yeoman’s work from Lone’s colleague and Omar Abdullah’s confidante, Nazir Gurezi. Not only Gurezi manages the house with an impressive command, but he also runs the business as usual. This makes the Gurez lawmaker a new ‘centre of attraction’ in the house.

He exhibits knowledge of issues beforehand and directs the swift action. For the MLA whose origin lies on the other side of Razdan pass, it seems no big deal to cool down the tempers in the house with an authority. His skills have already set an example that ‘marshalling out’ move isn’t always a last shot in deputy speaker’s armoury to run the house.

The burly NC man acting as deputy speaker makes the stay of lawmakers worth watching in the ongoing session of the assembly. He never detests from calling spade a spade. When recently he was accused by Congress’ lawmaker Aijaz Khan for violating a rule, the vigilant Gurezi displayed the rule book, forcing Khan to apologise. After failing to present report on Handwara killings, Gurezi directed the ruling coalition to respect demands of the Opposition and then expect ‘normal’ behaviour from them.

Being an NC lawmaker, he never shies away from praising the ruling party lawmakers for their conduct as per the textbook. And at times, the NC lawmaker doesn’t waver to shut the mouth of his own colleagues.

The 51-year-old lawmaker from Gurez’s Badwam, Gurezi served as an MoS for PHE in last dispensation. In last polls, Gurezi’s detractors were predicting his loss. But while major NC leaders lost the poll battle, Gurezi emerged winner. A three time MLA, Gurezi defeated his nearest rival Congress’ Faqir Mohammad Khan by 141 votes in last elections. In 2008, Gurezi defeated Faqir by 732 vote margin.

Being the deputy speaker, Gurezi seems working for Gurez more properly than as a minister. He recently reviewed status work on various power projects and Bandipora-Gurez transmission line before directing the concerned to complete the work within stipulated time frame.

But his bigger shot came when he expressed his desire to throw Gurez on the full-blown tourist map. For that, the deputy speaker wants to utilise the image and services of the native. Gurezi wants Bollywood actress Huma Qureshi to be Gurez’s brand ambassador. The tinsel town star is tracing her Kashmir connection through Gurez roots. With the suggestion yet to get formalised, Gurezi is busy managing the house.

His conduct is enough to suggest: He means business!

– Riyaz Ul Khaliq

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