Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday requested Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha to grant land to his state for the construction of a Maharashtra Bhavan in the Valley, stirring up a row.

If allowed, Maharashtra will be the first state to have a Bhavan in Kashmir.

Shinde personally handed over a letter to Sinha in which he praised the purported progress witnessed by Jammu and Kashmir after the scrapping of Article 370 provisions in 2019.

The Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena leader, who is on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, tweeted the picture of him handing over the letter to Sinha in Srinagar.

“I met J&K LG Manoj Sinha in Srinagar today. It was a courtesy meeting. A lot of development has taken place in J&K,” Shinde tweeted.

“With this, the number of tourists visiting the UT is also increasing. I have urged the LG to facilitate us to construct a Maharashtra Bhavan in J&K for tourists visiting from the state,” he added.

Shinde wrote in the letter: “Understanding the value of tourism and cultural exchange in enhancing relationships and economic growth, I kindly ask for your consideration in allocating land... in Kashmir to build a Maharashtra Bhavan.”

In the letter, Shinde claimed that Jammu and Kashmir had transformed under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the local leadership and said the “evolution” presented an ideal opportunity for greater integration between Maharashtra and Kashmir.

“There is immense value of tourism and cultural exchange in strengthening relationships and driving economic growth…. This would serve as a vibrant showcase of Maharashtrian art, culture, and cuisine, providing accommodation and support to Maharashtrians visiting Kashmir,” the letter said.

The letter said the Bhavan would function as a dynamic venue for cultural events and conversations, fostering a rich exchange of ideas.

Shinde envisioned it as a hub for students, entrepreneurs and officials from both states to engage with each other, cultivate connections and collaborate on sharedinterests.

Shinde assured Sinha that the development of the Maharashtra Bhavan would strictly adhere to eco-friendly guidelines and procedures, respecting the cultural and natural legacy of Kashmir.

It is not clear whether the Jammu and Kashmir government will give the go-ahead to the project.

Many in Kashmir questioned the motive of setting up a Bhavan in Jammu and Kashmir and saw it as part of a purported plan to help outsiders create assets in the region.

“The Indian Railways alone has a Bhavan here. No state has. I think it will start a trend and other states will follow. In the end, it will destroy and not help tourism here,” Saleem Beg, former director-general of the government’s tourism department, told The Telegraph.

Beg said there was nothing that barred other states from setting up Bhavans in Kashmir. “They could not have purchased land here (because of Article 370) but they could have got it on lease. Now they can purchase it. If all states do it, they will create hundreds of rooms for the residents of their states, eventually hitting our revenues. Instead of promoting tourism, you will hit our tourism,” he said.