Iltija Mufti flags shrinking Amarnath lingam, raises concerns over environmental impact
PDP leader Iltija Mufti has raised concerns regarding the environmental impact of the Amarnath Yatra, citing the shrinking of the holy ice lingam. She argues that excessive pilgrim numbers and infrastructure projects are threatening the fragile ecosystem of the cave shrine.
Why it matters
The issue balances the cultural and religious significance of the pilgrimage against the urgent need for sustainable environmental management in the Himalayas.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti on Wednesday (July 8, 2026) shared photographs on social media of the shrinking Amarnath lingam and alleged that the annual pilgrimage was exceeding the Supreme Court-prescribed limit on the number of pilgrims, raising concerns over the environmental impact on the cave shrine.
The article focuses on environmental criticism of government-managed religious tourism, which is a common theme in opposition-led discourse.
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