Imphal, February 21: With "Irom Chanu Sharmila's campaign is justified", "Repeal AFSPA from Manipur", "Save Sharmila" and "Stop atrocities by security forces", the street corner campaign in support of Sharmila's struggle was held at five different places of Imphal East and Imphal West.

The street corner campaign being undertaken by the AFSPA Temshingnabi Chanu Sharmila Khongjang Shougat Nupi Lup under the aegis of the Apunba Lup has completed 29 days today.

In the street corner meetings held at Khurai Lamlong Bazar, Chingmeirong Khongnang Ani Karak, Khuyathong Pukhri Achouba Mapal, Kombirei Keithel and Naoremthong Bazar, people showed their solidarity to the unparalleled struggle of Sharmila saying that her campaign is more than justified.

They also demanded repeal of AFSPA from Manipur and to save Sharmila's life.

Speaking at the meetings, activist of the Apunba Lup K Taruni reminded that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 formulated by the Government of India was imposed in the region without ever bothering to seek consent and opinion of the people.

She construed that imposition of the draconian Act which has become an instrument to violate the fundamental rights in the North-Eastern States including Manipur while sparing other States of India from the inhuman Act is a clear evidence that the Union Govt is scheming to commit genocide in the region.

She also lamented the reluctance of the Union Govt to repeal the Act from Manipur even after Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has acknowledged that AFSPA is a threat to human lives.

Alleging that the Government is pursuing some hidden agenda, Taruni said that it's time to unearth the alleged diabolic policy of the Union Govt.She further called upon the people to take their due responsibility in the abolition of the draconian Act and to wage a massive and sustained campaign towards this end.

Recalling that most of the political parties contesting in the 9th Assembly elections are promising to repeal the Act through their manifestoes, another activist of the Apunba Lup Thasana cautioned that the people of Manipur have been preparing to teach the political parties a befitting lesson in case they fail to fulfil their promise after they come to power.

Taking the name of AICC president Sonia Gandhi who visited the State twice recently in connection with the elections while all the central leaders including herself failed to pay a visit when the State was in turmoil and crucial situations, Thasana lambasted the Congress chief.

She also decried the failure of central political leaders who came to the State to campaign for the elections to give any clear commitment regarding people's demand to repeal AFSPA from Manipur.

Ridiculing the claim of some political parties that they honour women's rights, Thasana questioned as to why they fail to take notice of Sharmila's campaign who have been fasting for six long years.

Calling upon the people to save the life of Sharmila, she said that it's time for the people of Manipur to rise up as one to abolish the inhuman Act from the State.

It's time for the women folk to launch a massive movement against the Act and to save Sharmila's life who has been on fast against the same Act, allegedly imposed in the State to exterminate all the indigenous Manipuris from the face of the earth, said Gyaneshwari, another Apunba Lup activist.

She further appealed to the people to cooperate and attend the ongoing street corner campaign in support of Sharmila's struggle.

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