Sharmila indifferent to Delhi's indifference
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 12 2011: Irom Sharmila has termed the attention and acknowledgement extended to the four day fast launched by Anna Hazare while ignoring her more than her 10 years old struggle against the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, as discriminatory and unfair.

"The Government of India may be discriminatory to the core and they may not take notice of my campaign against AFSPA for any length of time, but the ongoing campaign will continue until the final victory is achieved", Sharmila asserted.

Talking to The Sangai Express, Sharmila said that such partial attitude of the Government cannot not deter her.

Irom Sharmila who was produced before the Court of Imphal East CJM today for further remand said that her campaign was guided by compassion and humane spirit.

"I would not like to compare my struggle with anybody.

Even if the Government of India is so discriminatory, I would continue my struggle undaunted and undeterred", the Iron Lady said.

Incidentally, 72 year old social activist Anna Hazare started his fast unto death agitation against corruption at Jantar Mantar, Delhi from April 5 .

Even though the UPA Government appealed to Anna Hazare to call off his agitation, the social activist, who is a Gandhian, refused to budge his stand.

Unflagging crusader

It was only after the UPA Government gave its commitment to pass the Lokpal Bill in the forthcoming Monsoon session of the Parliament as well as induct representatives from the civil society organisations in the drafting panel, that Anna Hazare broke his fast at 10.53 am of April 9 .

On the other hand, Irom Sharmila who has been fasting since November 2000 demanding repeal of AFSPA is being lodged in judicial custody under IPC Section 309 which has charged her of trying to commit suicide.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh himself had admitted that a more humane law is preferable during his visit to the State in 2004.Moreover, Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission instituted by the Government of India itself had also recommended scrapping of the same Act.

As a routine, Irom Sharmila who is being forcibly nose-fed inside security ward of JNIMS is produced before the Court of CJM Imphal East after every 15 days just to fulfil the legal procedure of obtaining remand.

The Government of India's act of making a hero out of an agitator from mainland India while treating Sharmila like a criminal is nothing but racial discrimination, remarked Subita Mangshatabam.

Referring to Indian Home Secretary GK Pillai's statement that insurgency movement was no more in the entire North East region, social activist Subita asked the Government of India to repeal AFSPA as the same Act was imposed to tackle insurgency.

She said that Anna Hazarre's agitation to enact a law against corruption was commendable but at the same time the Government of India's discriminatory attitude was highly condemnable.