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awakened Bhalessa
MOHAMMAD SHARIEF Niaz, rated high in the realm of politics, was the
only torch bearer to provide solace to the people during the turmoils
in Bhalessa. Niaz was born on April 24, 1944, in the village of
Changa, Bhalessa, and is a law graduate. Being a legal luminary, he
was entrusted the responsibility of being the Law Minister of the state
in 1989.
In 2007, Niaz was elected as a Member of Legislative Council (MLC) for Doda, replacing Mohammad
Iqbal Bhat.
It is interesting to note that in the aftermath of the Jammu agitation, while the assembly
constituency like Bhaderwah witnessed sharp polarisation, here the impact was not so deep for
Niaz, as he was the only competent candidate for the Congress high command.
Lo and behold, Niaz reportedly broke down at the declaration of the result, when he was contesting
from Bhaderwah in the 2009 by-elections, as he himself was not expecting to win. Niaz defeated Mr.
Dalip Singh of BJP by a margin of 2,747. While Mr. Niaz polled 21,966 votes, Mr. Singh polled
19,219 votes, out of a total of 53,219 votes.
Regarding the Kashmir conflict, he is the think tank for the Indo-Pak process viz-á-viz good
governance in the state. He advocated that Pakistan should take the necessary measures to control
the militant organisations operating from its soil and indulging in bloodshed in Jammu andKashmir.
During his tenure as a cabinet minister, he ordered a probe into the reasons for the collapse of the
Diversion Tunnel at the 450-MW Baglihar hydroelectric project in Kashmir.
Niaz was not only pitched against strong candidates of other parties, but also his own party leaders,
workers, and a number of close relatives, worked against him. The youth and disadvantaged played
a pro-active role to ensure his victory.
Niaz saw a bitter contest with the BJP’s roping in of Ghulam Ali, brother of Ghulam Nabi Azad, who
campaigned as the BJP candidate. Ghulam Ali raised a storm by supporting the Babri Masjid
demolition in his speeches.
The local people opine that Ali won the election keeping in view the contribution of Niaz during the
tumultuous days of turmoil.