Statehood for J&K ‘only a matter of time’, says Assembly Speaker

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Sunday expressed confidence that the Union Territory would soon regain its statehood, citing assurances from the highest political and judicial quarters.

Talking to reporters at the venue of All India Presiding Officers’ Conference, Rather noted that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had assured the restoration of statehood.

“The Prime Minister has himself promised that Jammu and Kashmir will not be denied statehood. The Home Minister has reiterated this on the floor of Parliament, and even the Supreme Court has underlined that the process should be expedited. It is only a matter of time before the people of Jammu and Kashmir see it restored,” he said.

The Speaker also used the occasion to highlight the importance of safeguarding democratic traditions. Stressing India’s position as the “mother of democracy”, he said it was vital that the nation continued to nurture and strengthen democratic institutions for the benefit of its citizens.