Then came the state government’s decision to grant an extension to the then vice-chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences, Hashamtullah Khan — promptly turned down by the governor, who is chancellor of the university.

The politics on the issue of the Amarnath Shrine Board became more intense after Ghulam Nabi Azad took over as chief minister. The Kashmir-centric PDP started accusing Sinha of trying to further a hidden Hindutva agenda. The public statements, however, were limited to “destruction of environment” and “governor’s disregard towards the authority of the elected government”. The PDP’s entire constituency is within Kashmir and so a row with Raj Bhavan was a favourable political device.

Azad, nevertheless, maintained cordial relations with Sinha for two reasons. With Raj Bhavan on his side, Azad enjoyed a strategic lead over his difficult coalition partner. The major chunk of Azad’s constituency is in Jammu where the rift between the ruling PDP and Sinha over the Amarnath Shrine Board has an entirely different connotation.

The latest confrontation began when Sinha wrote a letter to the state government, seeking the formation of a separate Amarnath Development Authority covering both the yatra routes from Pahalgam and Baltal. This was immediately translated as Raj Bhavan’s plan to acquire a large piece of territory within the valley where the writ of the elected government will not run. The fear of the Board turning into an extra-constitutional entity was further substantiated when Raj Bhavan declined to respond to a question. In answer, it asked the House to tell the legislator who had asked the question about the Board, that he does not enjoy the powers to question the decision of a body headed by the governor.

... contd.