Srinagar, July 24 -- Dismissing claims that National Conference is reluctant about Panchayat polls, Dar said the party has a strong record of conducting such elections in 1998, 2011, and 2020.

"There is a history of the National Conference. When Dr. Farooq Abdullah returned to power in 1996, Panchayat elections were held in 1998. Later in 2011, during Omar Abdullah's tenure, I was the Minister of State and we witnessed record-breaking polling in rural areas," he said as per news agency KNS.

Dar said the Panchayati Raj institutions have played a vital role in empowering people and ensuring accountability.

"In 2011, we saw record-breaking polling in rural areas. The concept of Panchayati Raj was strengthened then," he said. He added that...