To Irom Sharmila with hope

Shohaib Rahaman *

Irom Sharmila released and resumed fasting agitation at Shahid Minar on 29 February 2016 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

The people of Manipur were taken aback with many doubtful at first to hear your news. Since then, there has been an uproaring in social media expressing dissatisfaction at your step with many wanting you to take back and continue the fight in the way you have been through these nearly 16 years.

You have been called the Iron Lady of Manipur or Meingoubi, I would like to call you 'Great Sister of Manipur'.

Dear Great Sister, why do you want to give up fasting? You say you don't get any positive response from the government, want to return to normal life and fight the upcoming assembly elections and your main issue will be AFSPA.

Dear Great Sister, it won't work easily or may not work at all. An MLA can't focus only on one issue. Also there is no cabinet post called anti-AFSPA in any of the governments!

More importantly, the central government has an upper hand in dealing with AFSPA. While the central government irrespective of the party in power has one voice over the years including the present one which justifies AFSPA saying there is a 'war-like situation' in Manipur, the political struggle to lift AFSPA out of the state seems bleak.

Apart from mounting some pressure on the central government, state politics can't merely tackle such an issue.

Yes, New Delhi seems to turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to us, but that doesn't meant involving in politics will help. And involving in politics will surely dilute your struggle for the past 16 years.

Though political parties or politics are as such, we have judiciary through which Extra-Judicial Victims Families Association, Manipur (EEVFAM) succeeded in bringing hon'ble Supreme Court into the issue and getting a positive nod towards ensuring justice to the victims of the fake encounter killings in the state.

In such a situation, why are you leaving the people who along with you have fight this realistic battle in stray before reaching the goal? You have sacrificed a lot, your youth, your life, your happiness.

With such strength in you, the people of Manipur won't like to lose you.

Also you are setting a negative impact on any of your successor who will lead the fight. It's easy to distrust them and possibly ask if they are going to make personal gain out of such an issue of the people. Also you say you got no support from the muslims and tribals, that's not true. The people of Manipur irrespective of the communities they belong to are victims of this Act and supports you.

Unfortunately the state government too seems to be reluctant on AFSPA. We are not asking them to fast! We just want them to convey to New Delhi the voice of the people who have elected them. We want them to do it for the sake of the people. We want the inner voice of conscience in us to reach the capital through them and activate the same there as well to ponder if they should allow their military to shot on mere suspicion.

The irony of the issue is that AFSPA is something 'legal' and the struggle is against this 'legal' Act for we felt that such an Act should be deemed illegal. That means we are protesting against the government who frame it in the way the constitution gurantees us.

In that sense, does it sounds good to enter into the system against whom we are protesting? Some may argue Arvind Kejriwal does it by involving in politics. But there is nothing legal about corruption which he is fighting against and unlike you, his fight is not against any law of the land. Every sensible person know corruption must be done away with. On the contrary AFSPA is something imposed legally.

Dear Great Sister, our goal may be difficult to achieve but not impossible, it may take a hundred years but not eternal, it may be far from us but it won't run away.

Eventually, it's upto you to make your decision which I respect it. Since it's a struggle of the people, it would be good if you are on the same line with the people's views.

So dear Great Sister, please continue your fast. Hope that one day, the possible goal of us will surely be achieved and the people of Manipur will rejoice and you will break your fast at that time.

Wishing you all the best.