The decision of the coalition government came after the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) withdrew support to its partner Congress Party to protest against the land allotment. After the PDP pulled out, the Congress Party reduced to minority. The move was taken by state Governor NN Vohra, who is also the chairperson of the Amarnath Shrine Board.

Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) objected to the government’s decision, saying the Congress Party’s “votebank politics” to appease Muslims would be a poll issue for the upcoming national elections.

Thousands of Hindus visit the Amarnath shrine, situated in Muslim majority Anantnag district, every year in July and August to catch a glimpse of a stalagmite structure that is considered an icon of Hindu god Shiva.

When the allotment of land to the shrine board was announced on June 23, separatist groups launched a campaign against the government’s move accusing it of trying to change the demographic character of the region by building houses for Hindus.