Irom Chanu Sharmila, the crusader against Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) who is on hunger strike for the last 15 years was here in the National Capital recently in a case registered against her for attempting to commit suicide. While talking to The Pioneer she said that the freedom of Manipuri people from this draconian Act is bigger than any hunger and personal ambition. She also said that it is the dream of her mother which inspires her to continue the battle against AFSPA and that the protest against it must go on.
Sharmila who started her protest during the NDA regime in 2000 says that she is still awaiting the NDA Government’s response regarding AFSPA.
It may be recalled that an FIR under Section 309 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered against Sharmila in the year 2006 when she was protesting at Jantar Mantar is not of much importance for her. "I want the Government to listen to my inner voice," she claims.
lamenting the condition of her home State she said, "I have been demanding the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) be repealed or be lifted from Manipur as it has caused immense hardship to common man of Manipur." Sharmila added that no action has been taken against such things under the garb of the AFSPA.
On being asked about the reaction from the current NDA Government, Babloo loitongbam, one of her supporters in the movement against AFSPA and the director of the NGO Human Rights Alert said that Kiren Rijiju had promised her for a meeting but it is still awaited. "She has also written to the Prime Minister but no response has come as of yet," he said.
"I do not want to be glorified ... Every living being has its own sense of protection and dependence" , she said while narrating her resolve to keep fighting till the goal is achieved.