Whereas the people of Manipur, particularly members of SAKL have been keeping a close watch over Sharmila’s life, her elder brother Shinghajit resigned from being a Government employee and he has been assisting his sister’s crusade.
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“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. The radical group said in a statement that, although her boyfriend is an NRI, he is an “Indian” and because of the increasing number of marriages between Manipuris and “Indians”, the natives are facing identity crisis.
It looked like she was influenced by some elements as if they knew that Sharmila’s crusade was on the threshold of victory.
SAKL was dumbstruck when Sharmila suddenly announced in Cheirap Court complex on July 26 that she would break her fast, get married and join electoral politics.
In fact, a close associate of hers who has been supporting her in the struggle against Afspa, distances herself from Irom Sharmila by saying that the decision to end the fast, marry and contest election is a sort of betrayal. “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.
They also said Sharmila should not marry a “non-local man”. “But her decision to end it was abrupt”, said Sakal Devi, Irom’s 84-year-old mother. She is the youngest of the siblings and our love will always be there for her.
The decisions which she made last week were hers.
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An Indian political activist who has been on hunger strike for 16 years is expected to bring her protest to an end on Tuesday. She has been continuing her fast unto death from the year 2000, demanding that Afspa be repealed. Then 28, Sharmila began her movement two days after incident. “But it is her desire”, her brother said. Subsequently, she was arrested by the police who charged her with an “attempt to commit suicide”. Amnesty International India calls on the Manipur government to immediately and unconditionally release the 44-year-old activist and to drop all charges against her.
