Regret NC boycotting panchayat polls in 2018: Farooq Abdullah

The National Conference and PDP had boycotted the panchayat polls held in September 2018 and Municipal elections in November 2019 after the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status.

Srinagar: Former chief minister and National Conference president, Farooq Abdullah, on Tuesday expressed regret that his party didn't participate in the 2018 panchayat polls.

"I regret that my party didn't participate in panchayat polls," Abdullah said while speaking at the Parliamentary Outreach Programme for strengthening Parliamentary Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Jammu and Kashmir, which was held at SKICC in Srinagar today.

The programme was chaired by the Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla. LG Manoj Sinha and other dignitaries were present at the stage when Farooq was speaking.

The National Conference and PDP had boycotted the panchayat polls held in September 2018 and Municipal elections in November 2019 after the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status.

Abdullah said that NC will participate in elections for panchayats with fervour.

Abdullah, while requesting JK Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who was present on the dais, to provide security to panchayat leaders, said they were being targeted.

"The politicians who are standing with the country are target of the terrorists and it is for the country to protect them," he said.

He exhorted upon the panchayat members who were present in the audience that they should work for the welfare and development of the people who have elected them.

The NC President expressed anger towards the officials of the administration saying that they don't respond to the phone calls of the people.

"Soon a government will be formed in Jammu and Kashmir which will make government officials answerable to the people," Abdullah said.

Abdullah urged Sinha to instruct officials to answer and respond to the phone calls of the people.