Still on fast, Sharmila urges Modi to withdraw AFSPA

Imphal: Civil rights activist Irom Sharmila Chanu on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take necessary steps to repeal the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), a day after her release from a special jail ward created at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital (JNIMS) after 13 years.
The 42-year-old activist said she had tried to meet the Prime Minister a couple of months back but had failed and now repealing the law should be “one of the priorities” of the Prime Minister.
Still on fast but without the nasal drip, Sharmila, who is on dharna at a makeshift camp near JNIMS, went to the women’s market, Ima Keithel, in the city centre and was greeted by a large number of women for championing their cause.
Earlier in the day, she turned down an attempt by a team of doctors to check her health. “I take care of myself,” she said.
“When I appeared before a metropolitan court in New Delhi in May this year, I failed to personally meet and urge the Prime Minister to scrap AFSPA. Since he has taken up a number of policies to shape India, AFSPA should be one of his priorities,” Sharmila told TOI in the evening.
She stressed her struggle is not for any personal gain and that the 60 MLAs from the state should not be silent about the repeal of this law. “Since governments are for the people, the elected representatives should take into account the dreadful impact of the law and seek its repeal,” she said.
Sharmila reiterated that she would continue to fast till the act was repealed. “My struggle is democratic and I have no intention to end my life,” she said.
Deputy chief minister and home minister Gaikhangam stated the government has no enmity with Sharmila and that they are taking care of her safety and health. On Thursday afternoon, a team of doctors, accompanied by the police, attempted to check Sharmila’s health but she turned down the offer saying, “I am fine. I will not allow you to check my health.” After a short while the doctors and the police left the spot.
Till filing of this report, Sharmila was not arrested as has been the practice in the past 13 years of releasing her and arresting her after a day or two as under section 309 of IPC (attempt to suicide) the maximum punishable term is a year.
Complying with a sessions court order, Manipur jail authorities on Wednesday evening had released Sharmila from the security ward of JNIMS where she was being force-fed through the nose.