Irom Sharmila to end fast today

Ms. Sharmila’s brother Irom Singhajit said that even though the family was not consulted before she took the decision, his sister was welcome home if she wanted to stay with the family.

“She will be produced before a judicial magistrate tomorrow and the court will release her from judicial custody after she breaks her fast as she had announced a fortnight ago”, he told PTI. Her sacrifice can “never be wiped away”, says the septuagenarian. “We will discuss ground realities with her once she is out”.

The Justice Reddy Commission had in the year 2005 recommended the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act, 1958, in Manipur.

At a district court hearing in Imphal, Sharmila expressed the desire to come out of her fast and contest state elections. “A politician only thinks of the next election but a statesman like her thinks of the next generation, so why does she wants to join the politicians?” questions Singh.

Dr Meinya also requested HRD Minister Prakash Javdekar to give appointment to the representatives of All India Federation of University and College Teachers Organization (AIFUCTO) and said that the organization will stage a strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

“Since her announcement to break the fast, the government has not allowed us to meet her”. She is the youngest of the siblings and our love will always be there for her. She also expressed her intention to contest Manipur Assembly polls (as an independent candidate), scheduled for next year, with an aim to fight politically against the draconian laws, and to marry her fiancé, Desmond Coutinho, in the hope to lead a normal life.

“We feel distraught at her decision”.

“A person who has not eaten solid food for 16 years can not start it suddenly”. She has been continuing her fast unto death from the year 2000, demanding that Afspa be repealed.

Irom says in the interview that Desmond’s letters and thoughts made her fall for him and she has carefully kept them in a box by her bedside. But as her health deteriorated rapidly while under arrest, nasogastric intubation was forced on her to keep her alive. Three days into her fast, she was arrested on charges of attempting suicide and has been force fed through a tube in her nose since then.