By TCN News,
New Delhi: On the eve of human rights day, a human chain was formed near India gate in the capital to showcase the plight of Irom Sharmila and the human rights violation caused by heavy militarization and the draconian act of Armed Forces Special Power Act or AFSPA.
On December 10, the world observes the international human rights day.
Volunteers of Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign (SSSC), a nation-wide struggle to protest against the neglect and suppression of Irom Sharmila, a Manipuri human rights activist who has been on a hunger strike against AFSPA in Manipur for 12 years now, organized a human chain to at India Gate at 5 p.m.
SSSC once again appealed to the government to resume talks with her.
For over a year, SSSC has been organizing public demonstrations, candle-light vigils, signature campaigns, caravans and awareness programmes in colleges across the nation and beyond.
Ravi Nitesh, one of the organizers, said that the purpose of the human chain was to spread the word among the citizens about a fellow citizen. “Irom Sharmila has been struggling for 12 years to argue for rights which are given to everyone else in the country,” he added.
Another volunteer Mohammad Tanveer added that, “Her ongoing struggle shows her faith in the democratic institutions of the country. But the Government has chosen to neglect her non-violent and democratic voice. We ask why?”
Pankaj Pathak stated, “On human rights day, this human chain symbolizes another blot on the world’s largest democracy. We support Irom and her struggle as we believe that every citizen of this country deserves the same rights and privileges.”