Imphal: The 44-year-old Irom Chanu Sharmila on Tuesday
announced her landmark decision, saying that she will not continue her hunger
strike from August 9. The most prominent face of Manipur’s protests, Chanu was
on hunger strike for the last 16 years and was forced to nose-feed for all these
years.
Sharmila has informed her decisions on a district court
today, adding that she wants to contest in the upcoming Manipur polls and will marry
soon. Irom have to visit the court in every 15 days to mark attendance. Earlier,
on 2014, two parties from Manipur had asked her to contest in Elections, but
she refused.
Following her announcement of decisions, Irom’s brother
Singhajit said that he was completely unaware that ‘she is going to terminate
her fast.’ He was with her sister throughout her journey and struggles.
‘The iron lady of Manipur’ started her struggles after a
group of army men of the Assam Rifles (AFSPA) killed 10 civilians in Malom bus
stand. The 28-year old lady vowed not to eat, drink, comb her hair or look into
the mirror until the Indian government ‘repeal’ AFSPA from Manipur. After three
days of her strike, Irom was arrested and then shifted to Jwaharlal Nehru
Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) citing health issues.
Irom has been on
hunger strike for more than 500 weeks.
While no one is sure about the exact reasons to cease her 16
year-long strike, some assumed it as her British boyfriend. Her associates said
that the decision may have come due to frustration. “The government is not
listening to the demands of the people. So she is changing her path from
activism to politics. Her goal remains the same - revocation of AFSPA,” said
another associate.
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