Though Irom ended her hunger strike, her resolve to not see her mother unless the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is repealed continues.
On Tuesday, when Irom Chanu Sharmila, 44, broke her 16-year-old fast in a historic moment, there was one woman who did not find succour in the momentous act – Sharmila's mother Irom Ongbi Sakhi.
Though Irom ended her hunger strike, her resolve to not see her mother unless the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is repealed continues.
On Tuesday, Irom went to the district court where she informed the judge of her decision. She was granted bail in exchange for a bond of Rs 10,000, and she also informed the judge of her decision to enter politics.
Soon after, she held a news conference, where she tearfully broke her fast with a lick of honey, softly saying, "I will never forget this moment." Speaking to reporters, she said: "They say politics is dirty, but so is society. I want to contest elections against the government, become the CM of Manipur and repeal AFSPA," she said.
Babloo Loitongbam, director of Human Rights Alert, and one of Sharmila's closest aides, said: "This is the conclusion of one chapter, and we are waiting to script the next now. Her struggle continues; her technique has now changed. Our priorities are now focussed on helping Irom recover," said Babloo, informing that they are now consulting doctors to help her. Irom has been taken to a safe place, away from the prying eyes of everyone.
Ravi Nitesh, convenor of the Delhi-based Save Sharmila Campaign, says that her decision to contest elections have attracted attention from all quarters. While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) approached her for the 2014 parliamentary election, Nitish Kumar's JD (U), the local BJP unit and Swaraj Abhiyan are also keen. Irom had made it known that she will not ally with any political outfit.
Her decision to break the fast invited differing views. It is believed that she broke her fast to lead a normal life with Desmond Coutinho, a Goa-based British national. "... the people of my state were unkind to him, and blamed all the failures and misgivings of the movement on us. What they forget is that I am not just a Meitei, not just a woman, I am a human being," she had told dna in October.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Irom Chanu Sharmila")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}