Gulam Nabi Azad

Chief minister of India-administered Kashmir quits

New Delhi - Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad of India's Jammu and Kashmir state quit on Monday after a coalition partner withdrew support to his minority government over a controversy over transferring land to a Hindu shrine.

Azad submitted his resignation to the state governor after a week of protests over the land transfer decision which was later cancelled by the government.

Kashmiri Muslims alleged the decision to transfer 99 acres of government land to the Amarnath shrine board was aimed at settling Hindus in India's only Muslim majority state.

Meanwhile, Kashmiri Hindus, based in southern Jammu district, have been protesting against the government's decision to cancel its order.