Irom Sharmila to end 16-year-long fast; BJP, Cong throws door open for her

44-year-old iconic rights activist was forcibly fed through a nasal tube since 2000 to keep her alive at a prison-turned-hospital.

Imphal:

After being on fast for the last 16 years demanding repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, Manipur's 'Iron Lady' Irom Chanu Sharmila is all set to end her fast today.

-"I will break my fast as the government has failed to give any positive response... I will fight elections to resolve the issues,-" she said outside the Imphal court.

According to her brother Irom Singhajit, the 44-year-old iconic rights activist, who was forcibly fed through a nasal tube since 2000 to keep her alive at a prison-turned-hospital, will break her fast at a local court in Imphal.

-"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 said on Monday.

Though a large number of her supporters and women activists under the forum of Sharmila Kunba Lup will be meeting her as she starts her new journey, Sharmila's 84-year-old mother Shakhi Devi will be conspicuous by her absence.

-"She will not go there to meet her. She is waiting for the moment of her victory which will come only when AFSPA is repealed,-" Singhajit, who will be present at the courtroom today, said.

The family and her supporters, who have not been able to meet her since July 26 when she announced her decision to end her fast and enter politics to ensure that AFSPA is repealed through political means, have no idea where she is going to stay from now on.

-"We don't know where she will go after her release. If she wants to come home and stay with us, we are ready to welcome her. But it is her desire,-" her brother said.

Local activist Kshetrimayum Onil, who has been associated with Ms Sharmila for a long time, said they tried many times but failed to meet her to discuss the future strategy on AFSPA. -"The government rules say that to meet her we have to apply at least one month before. We tried but failed to set up a meeting,-" he said.

Her brother also said he is waiting to meet Sharmila today to discuss future strategies.

Doctors attending Sharmila said she might have to be kept on a liquid diet for the next few days as her body might not be able to digest solid food all of a sudden. -"A person who has not eaten solid food for 16 years cannot start it suddenly. She has to start slowly and gradually in small quantities,-" they said.

-"Her condition is okay as she has been getting all nutrients. She can walk also,-" Dr Laishram Deben, director of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, said.

Sharmila has already got offers from BJP and the Congress to join their respective parties.

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday said that it will welcome activist Irom Sharmila if she wants to join the saffron party. BJP leader KH Joykishan said that Sharmila contesting elections from a BJP ticket is a decision which is to be considered by the central leadership of the party. -"The BJP welcomes everyone. if she wants to join our party we will not deny her admission. But regarding tickets we I cannot ensure as it is a decision of the Central leadership,-" said Joykishan.

The Congress too hinted that the grand old party will welcome the iron lady of Manipur, if she wishes to join the political outfit. Manipur Congress president TN Haokip hailed Sharmila's decision to contest elections and said that the latter is a determined person who will sticks by her commitments. -"We know she is a very determined and committed person. Once she takes a decision she will stand by it. Her becoming a part of Congress is a decision of the election committee. We will welcome her if she wishes to join our party,-" Haokip said.

However, Sharmila has also received threats from radical groups in the state if she contests elections and marries a non-Manipuri.

The secessionist group 'Alliance for Socialist Unity Kangleipak' on August 5 said that -"some former revolutionary leaders were assassinated-" after moving away from the cause and participating in public life. “All those who joined electoral politics did so knowing well that it was a dead-end,” ASUK chairman N Oken and vice-chairman Ksh Lab Meitei said in a statement last week.

The group demands sovereign Manipur. Two other secessionist groups too have asked Sharmila to continue the fast.

Sharmila's struggle has been the nucleus of all protests against AFSPA in Manipur and the neighbouring north-eastern states.

On November 2, 2000, an Assam Rifles battalion had allegedly killed 10 civilians in a village near Imphal. Three days later, Sharmila embarked on her fast demanding revocation of AFSPA, which allows security men to even kill a person on suspicion without the fear of facing a trial in court.