Srinagar: Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather has announced that the resolution to restore the territory’s special status, passed in the assembly’s inaugural session, has been forwarded to the relevant quarters for further action.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Rather, speaking to reporters in Srinagar, emphasized that his role as Speaker was to ensure an impartial process by tallying the votes, with no bias on his part. The Speaker clarified that the procedures to forward the resolution were completed the same day it passed. When asked about the resolution’s implications, Rather stated, “I am non-political, and it is better to ask this question to the political parties,” underscoring that his responsibilities were limited to presiding over the session and counting the votes.

The resolution received a strong majority, with 62 votes in favor and 28 opposed. Rather addressed concerns by saying, “The BJP assumed I would alter the vote count to show 28 in favor and 61 against,” highlighting that he merely reported the facts. In discussing the law-and-order situation, Rather pointed out that it is managed by New Delhi, not the IIOJK political setup.

At an event promoting culture, Rather affirmed his commitment to advocating for Kashmir’s cultural heritage. He stated, “The Kashmiri language should not be neglected,” and expressed his intent to encourage efforts to support cultural initiatives and local artists.