Nationwide protest supporting Sharmila from May 22

With the slogan “Repeal AFSPA, free Sharmila”, a mass protest supporting the case of Iron Lady, Irom Sharmila, will be held across India starting from May 22 till August 18. People from various states and organisations would be participating in this nationwide protest.

To aware people about her protest against AFSPA and thereby inviting them to support her cause, Sharmila’s supporters will visit various college campuses and public places in all the states of India. “A nationwide protest from May 22 to August 18 will be launched supporting Irom Sharmila’s hunger strike,” said Meghachandra, a social activist.

With Irom Sharmila’s fast-unto-death campaign nearly completing a decade, more and more people are coming forward to support  her cause to repeal the Armed Forces Special Power Act 1958 (AFSPA). Recently, members of All Assam Shramik Krishak Parishad (AISKKP) flew to Imphal to meet Sharmila, however, the state government denied them to meet her. The members of the organisation said that they will organise a mass protest in Assam as well supporting Sharmila’s fight to repeal the draconian law. And it has also confirmed its presence in the nationwide protest on Sharmila’s cause starting from May 22. 

Speaking to the media, the head of AISKKP, Pradip Kalitana said, “We fully support Sharmila’s protest. Although we are participating in the nationwide protest, we will also organise a mass protest in her support in Assam.”

On the 'step-motherly' treatment of Northeast by Centre, he said that though our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh represents Assam in Centre, it is unfortunate that he is still remaining silent when it comes to repeal AFSPA.

Talking about Centre Government’s acceptance of Anna Hazare’s demands, Kalitana said that this attitude of the government clearly shows that it entertains only the cause of ‘mainstream India’. He said not only the government but the media too was biased by giving full coverage to the hunger strike of Hazare while both of them ignoring the decade-long fast of Sharmila to repeal AFSPA.