Srinagar, Sept. 21 -- Jammu and Kashmir assembly speaker Abdul Rahim Rather said that elected government lacks the powers necessary to implement its manifesto in full until statehood is restored.

Speaking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Rather said that while people had voted enthusiastically for change, the absence of adequate powers remained the biggest obstacle.

"The government doesn't have the authority to implement all those promises immediately. Until the restoration of statehood takes place, I believe it will be difficult for the government to deliver on its manifesto in full," Rather said.

He added that there was a widespread perception that the Chief Minister did not have the powers expected of the office. "According to the bus...