Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir on Sunday said that the Centre has made up its mind over the restoration of Article 370 in the Constitution giving special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir that the matter will be handled through the judiciary.

Speaking on June 24 meeting of Jammu and Kashmir leadership with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 24, Mir said that they wanted to discuss the restoration of status before August 5, but there was no point as the GoI has made up its mind. “Matter to be handled through judiciary. Right now, full statehood is what we are aiming,” he said.

He further emphasised the Congress party’s stand is to restore the statehood to Jammu and Kashmir with a Constitutional guarantee.

Speaking to media persons, Mir said, “On June 24, Prime Minister called a meeting with 14 leaders of Jammu and Kashmir. Unfortunately, they (the central government) do not reveal any agenda. But the Congress Party apprised the Prime Minister of the situation in Kashmir from August 5, 2019, till today. We spoke about how the self-made decision of the Centre impacted Jammu and Kashmir. The way Congress Party made a presentation in the meeting with an agenda, preparation and homework, none of the other parties came to meeting had such thought process and preparation.”

“The Congress Party in the all-party meeting said elections should be conducted after statehood. Home Minister assured us of statehood after the demilitation exercise which will increase seven seats in Jammu and Kashmir. We demand the process to be held in a sequence where first delimitation, then statehood and after that, hold elections to form government in Jammu and Kashmir,” added Mir.

Earlier, PDP president and former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti said that she would not contest any elections until the special status is restored. She said that the Union government must focus on removing “Dil ki doori” with the people of the erstwhile state.