National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Friday warned the people of Kashmir against boycotting the forthcoming Assembly elections in the State, saying it would benefit the BJP.
He said the election boycott had benefited the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in the Tral segment of Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency.
"If the trend of parliamentary polls continues in the assembly elections, then there will be a BJP MLA from Tral," Abdullah said addressing party workers here.
The NC vice-president was referring to the BJP's lead in the Tral assembly segment of south Kashmir's Anantnag Parliamentary constituency due to poll boycott.
Abdullah asked the people to imagine a scenario where there could be a BJP MLA from Tral — a town where slain Hizbul Mujahiddeen commander Burhan Wani and Ansar Gazwatul-ul-Hind commander Zakir Mussa belonged to — pointing out a contradiction because of the boycott of the polls.
"Imagine, there will be a BJP MLA from the same Tral where from Burhan Wani and Zakir Mussa were if there is a boycott," he said.
Later, referring to the controversy over his remarks with some news channels accusing him of praising the slain militant commanders, the former chief minister said he was only pointing out the strange contradiction of the boycott and did not praise anyone.