By TCN News,
Imphal: Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign (SSSC), a nation-wide campaign in support of Irom Sharmila and for the repeal of draconian law of AFSPA has welcomed the decision of Irom Sharmila to break her fast in coming days.
Irom Sharmila, the anti-AFSPA icon and activist stunned everyone on Tuesday when she announced of ending her 16-year indefinite protest fast against the draconian law and also disclosed her plans to contest in the upcoming State Assembly election as an independent candidate.
Sharmila is known popularly as “Iron Lady of Manipur” for her fight against AFSPA. She began her fast on November 2, 2000 which she has now decided to end on August 9, 2016, after 16 years of fasting. Having refused food and water for more than 500 weeks, she has been called “the world’s longest hunger striker”.
Welcoming Sharmila’s decision, SSSC said in a statement that it is a befitting reply to Government’s ignorance of her sixteen years of fast where an extra ordinary example of non violent appeal to repeal AFSPA was made with the government, but government not only ignored it but also tried to suppress it through lodging criminal cases against Sharmila.
“SSSC observes that by this move to announce breaking her fast shows proof of failure of elected government of state and centre who never tried to meet her and to work on her demand. For a country like India, fast of Irom Sharmila was already a highlighted one and was seen as shameful for government and now when it is clear that government has not even moved an inch on this issue, “, it added.
It also expressed resolve to continue its struggle till AFSPA is repealed from all areas and said, “SSSC believes and demands that AFSPA must be repealed soon from all areas of North East and J&K.”.