Srinagar: National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Monday stated boycotting the panchayat polls in 2018 was “a huge mistake” and the occasion should contest each future election in Jammu and Kashmir.

Abdullah additionally warned the federal government and the safety forces to not intervene in any election course of.

“I want to tell the party that boycotting the panchayat elections (in 2018) was a huge mistake. Remember this, we will not boycott any coming election. Instead (we will) contest and win them,” Abdullah stated whereas addressing the occasion’s delegate session the place he was re-elected unopposed as National Conference (NC) president.

Referring to his son Omar Abdullah’s announcement that he wouldn’t contest elections so long as Jammu and Kashmir remained a Union Territory, the senior Abdullah stated, “As party president, I am telling you (Omar Abdullah) that you have to contest the election.” “Because if we have to fight them, then we all have to jump into the fray and contest elections,” he added.

The former Union minister stated the BJP “will do anything, even make attempts to buy your loyalties, but God will fail all their designs”. Abdullah additionally warned the safety forces and the federal government to not intervene within the elections in Jammu and Kashmir and stated “let people decide whom to vote for”.

“Otherwise there will be such a storm, which you will not be able to control,” he stated. Abdullah additionally threatened to launch an agitation in case such a factor occurred.

“We will be ready to sacrifice our lives. Farooq Abdullah will be the first to start an agitation over it,” he stated.