Anantnag BJP district president Rakesh Kaul questioned the allegation concerning permissions, saying such approvals were issued by the administration. The Anantnag BJP unit also said the rally had neither been organised nor authorised by it. The BJP subsequently suspended nine office-bearers from its primary membership and removed them from their organisational positions pending an inquiry. Those suspended included district general secretary Nisar Ahmad Bhat, district secretary Khursheed Ahmad Sofi, district secretary and former vice-president Aabida Rafiq, Shangus constituency president Irshad Ahmad Malik, Mohammad Maqbool Ganie, Pahalgam constituency president Waheed Ahmad Itoo, district secretary Nisar Ahmad Hakeem, Kisan Morcha district secretary Feroz Ahmad Hajam and Mahila Morcha district secretary Sabrooza Akhter. The allegations have consequently expanded the controversy from a dispute over the slogans to an apparent internal rift within the Anantnag BJP unit.