After 10 days of violent street protests, separatists in the Kashmir valley on Tuesday called off their agitation on the Amarnath issue with the government revoking the controversial land transfer order.
"The agitation has succeeded, the government has revoked the order and now the people should resume normal activities from tomorrow," Mian Abdul Qayoom, chairman of the Hurriyat Action Committee on the issue, told reporters this evening.
The Ghulam Nabi Azad government cancelled the transfer order of 39.88 hectares of forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board during a Cabinet meeting after the board decided not to pursue the claim.
Qayoom claimed the goverment's revocation order was a "people's victory" and they "should light candles in celebration".
The separatist leader also dismissed the threat of an economic blockade of the valley by the BJP, VHP and Bajrang Dal and said "the people have accepted the challenge and have the capacity to face it".
On the oil tankers association's decision to suspend fuel transportation to the valley for two days, Qayoom said the Deputy Commissioner had already refuted allegations that some tanker drivers were beaten up during the protests.
{{/usCountry}}On the oil tankers association's decision to suspend fuel transportation to the valley for two days, Qayoom said the Deputy Commissioner had already refuted allegations that some tanker drivers were beaten up during the protests.
{{/usCountry}}Shabir Shah, who was one of the senior hurriyat leaders to be been placed under house arrest during the agitation, said "it is the duty of the people to look after and provide facilities to yatris coming to Amarnath".
He added that the separatists were not against yatra and "did not stop pilgrims, but some people in Jammu are playing politics".