Our correspondent
IMPHAL | March 1
Crusader Irom Chanu Sharmila on Tuesday was unhappy saying that the government was spending money on her ‘to no purpose’, adding the money should rather be given to the poor.
Sharmila went straight to Sahid Minar here and resumed her hunger strike after being released by the court on Monday. She walked out of the Special Ward of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) around 4 pm on Monday after being released from the judicial custody.
The activist had been charged under Section 309 of the IPC for attempting to suicide. Sharmila is regularly arrested and released every year on the charge of attempting to commit suicide.
Flanked by her supporters, particularly members from Sharmila Kanba Lup (SAKAL), she refused attempts by a government medical team to check her health condition.
Her relentless campaign began in 2000 demanding the Government of India to repeal the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. While in the judicial custody at JNIMS, Sharma had to be force-fed through a nasal-gastric tube. The longest hunger striker in the world is also known as ‘Iron Lady of Manipur.’
She said it was purposeless for the Manipur government to spend a lot of money on her saying the poor should be rather helped with this money.
“I don’t want spending money on me. The government should stop it,” she said. A sentimental Sharmila also said the people were now unwilling to extend unending support to her movement.
'Will fast till AFSPA is repealed'
Imphal, March 1 (IANS): Civil rights activist Irom Sharmila has said she will continue to use the democratic weapon of fasting to demand the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, from Manipur though the chances of its success are very bleak.
“What I am doing is for the people. I shall continue using the democratic weapon of fasting,” said Irom, also known as the ‘Iron Lady of Manipur’.
People who used to extend support to her campaign are wallowing in material pleasures, said Sharmila, who is on a fast-unto-death since November 4, 2000, over her demand.
A local court ordered her release from custody on Monday, saying she was not guilty of attempting to commit suicide.
Soon after her release on Monday evening, she walked to the foot of ‘Shahid Minar’ in Imphal to continue with her fast.
On Tuesday, a medical team visited the fast venue to check her health but she refused.
“I am disappointed by the way my democratic campaign is being obstructed in this greatest democracy. The government has been spending a huge amount of money every month looking after me. The money should be distributed to the poor instead,” she said.
